ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Farmers across Southern Maryland are now eligible for federal disaster assistance following a drought designation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with Charles County identified as one of the hardest-hit areas.
The designation, announced April 17, 2026, names Allegany, Carroll, Charles, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s and Washington counties as primary natural disaster areas due to prolonged dry conditions during the growing season.
While Charles County is designated as a primary disaster area, farmers in neighboring Calvert and St. Mary’s counties are also eligible for assistance as contiguous counties, meaning they qualify due to their proximity to the impacted area.
Through the USDA Farm Service Agency, eligible agricultural producers may apply for emergency loans to help recover from crop losses and other drought-related impacts. Loan funds may be used to replace essential equipment or livestock, reorganize farming operations or refinance certain debts. Applications are reviewed based on the extent of losses, available collateral and repayment ability.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the affected counties experienced drought conditions reaching severe levels for at least eight consecutive weeks or escalating to extreme or exceptional intensity.
Farmers in the designated areas have eight months from the declaration to apply, with a deadline of Dec. 10, 2026.
What It Means For Southern Maryland
Charles County is listed as a primary disaster area, meaning it met the federal threshold for drought severity. Neighboring Calvert and St. Mary’s counties are eligible for the same assistance as contiguous counties, meaning they qualify due to their proximity to the impacted area.
Farmers in all three Southern Maryland counties — Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s — can apply for USDA emergency assistance under this designation.
For more information on available programs and how to apply, visit the USDA Farm Service Agency website at www.fsa.usda.gov/state-offices/Maryland.
For additional support, farmers can use the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and the Loan Assistance Tool to help them determine program or loan options. To file a Notice of Loss or to ask questions about available programs, contact your local USDA Service Center.
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