Several Kentucky counties, including Fayette, eligible for federal funds due to summer drought

Farmers in several Kentucky counties, including Fayette, are eligible for federal funds due to a drought that began this past summer, according to the Lexington Division of Emergency Management.

The Secretarial Disaster Designation was declared for 47 Kentucky counties suffering negative effects from an ongoing drought that began June 1. Thirty Kentucky counties, primarily in central and northern Kentucky, were included in the designation.

A full list of affected counties and how farmers can apply for assistance can be found on the United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency's website.

The designation was approved by USDA Secretary Thomas Vilsack on Oct. 29. Farmers have eight months — until June 30, 2025 — to apply for emergency loans.

Gov. Andy Beshear sent Vilsack a letter in August asking for assistance for farmers effected by the drought. In a response letter, Vilsack said there were sufficient production losses to enact a secretarial natural disaster designation.

"FSA considers each emergency loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of production losses on the farm and the security and repayment ability of the operator," Vilsack said in the letter.

Less than four inches of rain was recorded each month from June through August in Lexington, according to data from the National Weather Service. The monthly rain totals were below the yearly average.

In September Lexington got 6.33 inches of rain, much higher than the monthly average of 3.74, according to the NWS. However, in October Lexington got only 0.43 inches of rain, which is below the monthly average of 3.93.

Lexington has seen a rainy start to November, including near a quarter-inch of precipitation on Wednesday.