Editor's note: Additional counties have received designations. See the latest updates here.

Drought conditions that began to increase in December continue to impact the state, with nearly one-third of Colorado in the extreme or exceptional categories.

Since March, the United States Department of Agriculture and the US Small Business Administration have issued primary disaster designations for 24 of Colorado's 64 counties due to drought impacts (one additional county was designated by the SBA only), with another 18 counties eligible for assistance since they share a border with at least one primary county.

In some cases, a county may have become eligible for assistance multiple times as primary designations were made for their neighbors. For example, a county surrounded by four other counties could become eligible up to five times: four if each of its neighbors receives a primary designation on different dates, and once for its own primary designation.

That can create confusion about deadlines to apply for assistance, particularly when a county receives its own primary designation which is followed later by a neighbor’s primary designation. Typically, the most recent designation date, whether primary or as an adjoining county, determines the deadline to ask for assistance. Deadlines are eight months after the designation date.

To help sort through some of the questions, KiowaCountyPress.net has created the interactive map below. Counties that have received a primary designation are shaded red, while adjoining counties that do not have their own designation are shaded yellow. Fortunately, most USDA and SBA designation dates are aligned. SBA did make a separate primary designation for San Juan county which is not matched by USDA. San Juan appears in blue. The county is eligible for USDA assistance since it several of its neighbor counties received a primary designation. Counties shaded grey do not have a current drought designation from USDA or SBA.

Click on a county to see the date it became eligible for assistance from the two agencies. For counties that have primary designations, if there is a later date for eligibility as a neighboring county, both dates are listed.

Information about USDA and SBA programs and links to applications are listed below the map, along with tables of eligibility dates.

USDA

Farm operators in designated counties (primary designation or as an adjoining county) who meet eligibility requirements can apply for the Farm Service Agency’s emergency loans. Applications must be made within eight months of the date of the declaration. Loans help cover part of actual losses. Evaluation criteria includes

• Extent of losses
• Available security (collateral)
• Repayment ability

See the fact sheet attached at the bottom of the is page for details.

Other non-disaster program that may provide assistance include

• Operating and Farm Ownership Loans
• Emergency Conservation Program
• Livestock Forage Disaster Program
• Livestock Indemnity Program
• Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program
• Tree Assistance Program

Contact the local USDA service center for details on eligibility and the application process. More information is also available at disaster.fsa.usda.gov.

SBA

Non-farm businesses impacted by drought conditions may be eligible for low-interest Economic Injury Disaster Loans from SBA. The loans can be used by small businesses and non-profit organizations that depend upon farmers and ranchers to help offset losses from reduced revenue caused by drought. Businesses that have been directly impacted are also eligible.

The loans are based on financial impact, not property damages. Loan rates are typically below four percent for businesses, and under three percent for private non-profit organizations. Terms up to 30 years are available for loans up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which otherwise would have been met if not for impact of the disaster.

SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans become available when the Secretary of Agriculture makes an agriculture disaster designation. Most of the SBA designations in Colorado have been paired with a USDA designation, however San Juan county received an SBA-only designation. San Juan is eligible for USDA assistance as an adjoining county to a USDA-designated county.

Businesses primarily involved in farming or ranching are not eligible for the loans and should explore options under USDA programs.

Applications can be made online at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Information is also available by phone at 800-659-2955 or email at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

As with USDA programs, applications must be made within eight months of the disaster designation.