Utah agency outlines low-interest emergency loans for farmers after declared disasters

Sarah Clancy, Agricultural Loan Program staff with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, said the agency offers low‑interest emergency disaster relief loans to eligible Utah farmers and ranchers as a subprogram of its ARTL loan program.

“...we're able to provide low interest emergency disaster relief loans to our eligible Utah farmers and ranchers,” Clancy said. She added the funds are “designed to aid in your recovery, covering essential expenses such as increased feed costs or livestock replacement following a declared disaster.”

Clancy said applicants can find details about eligibility, allowable uses of loan funds and the application process online at ag.utah.gov or by contacting a local conservation district or a UDAF resource coordinator. “For more information on who is eligible, how the loan funds can be used, and how to apply, please visit our website at ag.utah.gov or reach out to your local conservation district or your local UDAF resource coordinator,” she said.

The presentation was informational: no motions, votes or formal decisions were recorded in the transcript. The remarks specify that the loan assistance applies after a “declared disaster,” and examples given for allowable uses include higher feed costs and livestock replacement. The transcript does not specify interest rates, maximum loan amounts, application deadlines, or whether other recovery programs must be exhausted before applying.

Farmers and ranchers seeking the program were directed to the agency website or to local conservation districts and UDAF resource coordinators for application guidance and eligibility questions.