US Department of Agriculture approves drought disaster declaration for US Virgin Islands

The United States Department of Agriculture approved Governor Albert Bryan Jr.’s (D) request for a secretarial drought disaster declaration for the US Virgin Islands, opening access to federal emergency loan assistance for farmers and agricultural producers across the territory.

The USDA notified Bryan on August 20 that St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John have been designated as primary natural disaster areas due to drought conditions documented by the US Drought Monitor, which has classified the entire US Virgin Islands under Extreme Drought (D3)—the second-highest drought category. Under USDA criteria, areas qualify for a drought-related secretarial disaster designation after experiencing D2 Severe Drought for eight or more consecutive weeks, or D3 Extreme or D4 Exceptional Drought during the growing season.

Bryan formally requested the declaration earlier this month as persistent dry conditions placed increasing pressure on the territory’s agricultural community, particularly livestock producers.

“Our farmers are essential to our food security, our economy and our way of life, and when they are hurting, we have an obligation to do everything we can to help,” Bryan said. “This designation gives our farmers another important resource to help them recover from the impacts of this drought and continue doing the work that feeds and sustains our community.”

The designation makes eligible farm operators able to apply for emergency loan assistance through the USDA Farm Service Agency. Emergency loans can be used to replace essential equipment or livestock, reorganize farming operations, or refinance certain debts, with a maximum loan amount of $500,000. Farmers have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply. Applications are reviewed individually based on the extent of production losses, available security, and the applicant’s ability to repay.

“This declaration does not make the drought disappear, but it gives our farmers another tool to withstand its effects,” Bryan said.

NOAA’s seasonal outlook projects drought conditions to persist across the US Virgin Islands through at least October 2026, with forecast models indicating a greater than 70% likelihood of below-normal precipitation and above-normal temperatures from August through October. Bryan said his administration will work with the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture and federal partners to ensure affected producers receive information about available assistance and application requirements.

Eligible farmers and producers are encouraged to contact their local USDA Farm Service Agency office for additional information about emergency loans and other disaster assistance programs.