The U.S. Department of Agriculture this week issued a disaster declaration for counties in Minnesota affected by the ongoing drought.

Freeborn, Faribault, Steele and Mower counties are included in the declaration.

The declaration means that farmers in those counties are now eligible for emergency loan assistance from the Farm Service Agency to help cover crop or livestock losses.

“As this drought continues it’s putting increasing strain on Minnesota’s farmers and ranchers,” said U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar. “This action by the USDA is another important step in helping our farmers get through these challenging times, and I will continue to work to ensure they have the support they need.”

The declaration designates Becker, Beltrami, Blue Earth, Brown, Clay, Cottonwood, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Jackson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Mower, Murray, Norman, Pennington, Pipestone, Polk, Red Lake and Watonwan counties as a primary disaster area.

Cass, Clearwater, Dodge, Hubbard, Itasca, Kittson, Koochiching, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Nicollet, Nobles, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Roseau, Steele, Wadena, Waseca, Wilkin and Winona counties have been designated contiguous disaster counties.