Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen was notified by the USDA that 55 counties in Nebraska have been designated as primary natural disaster areas due to the recent drought. Farmers in the counties that received the disaster designations are now eligible for federal assistance. Alongside the 55 primary counties 47 other counties have been designated as contiguous counties and farmer in those areas are also eligible for relief as well. 24 of those contiguous counties are located in neighboring state and those include Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, and Wyoming. The declaration was announce on March 31 and farmers have eight months to apply for the emergency loans. In Nebraska a total of 11 counties are experiencing exceptional drought which is the highest rating that can be received by the U.S Drought Monitor. 47 additional counties in Nebraska are rated as extreme drought and besides a small area in Richardson County, the rest of Nebraska is listed as severe drought, moderate drought, or abnormally dry.
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