USDA declares drought disaster for 26 Puerto Rico municipalities

The U.S. Department of Agriculture declared an agricultural drought disaster for 26 Puerto Rico municipalities on August 26, opening potential emergency-assistance pathways for eligible farmers and agricultural producers as dry conditions intensify across the island.

Puerto Rico submitted its formal request to USDA on August 10. The designation uses the agency’s Fast-Track process for municipalities that meet federal drought intensity and duration criteria during the growing season.

What changed

The declaration covers 13 primary municipalities: Cabo Rojo, Coamo, Guánica, Guayanilla, Juana Díaz, Lajas, Peñuelas, Ponce, Sabana Grande, Salinas, San Germán, Santa Isabel and Yauco.

It also covers 13 contiguous municipalities: Adjuntas, Aibonito, Barranquitas, Cayey, Guayama, Hormigueros, Jayuya, Lares, Maricao, Mayagüez, Orocovis, Utuado and Villalba.

According to the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration, USDA’s Fast-Track process can be used when part of a jurisdiction reaches severe drought for eight consecutive weeks during the growing season, or reaches extreme or exceptional drought at any time.

The action follows Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón’s islandwide drought emergency declaration on July 31. It is a USDA agricultural disaster designation for specified municipalities, not a broad federal emergency declaration covering every resident or an order that immediately restores public water supplies.

What producers may seek

Eligible producers may seek assistance through USDA’s Emergency Loan Program for expenses such as replacing essential property, covering production costs and refinancing certain debts. Other Farm Service Agency programs may also be available, including the Livestock Forage Disaster Program, Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees and Farm-Raised Fish, Livestock Indemnity Program, Emergency Conservation Program, Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program and Tree Assistance Program.

Those programs are not automatic grants or guaranteed payments. Producers must meet individual federal eligibility requirements and provide supporting documentation.

Puerto Rico Agriculture Secretary Irving Rodríguez Torres urged farmers to document drought-related losses and verify their Farm Service Agency registration. The government guidance says records may include photographs and evidence involving reduced production, pasture and forage conditions, water availability, crops, livestock, irrigation systems and other drought-related costs or losses.

Drought is affecting water and agriculture

The Associated Press reported that more than 33% of Puerto Rico was under extreme drought and another 30% under severe drought. AP also reported that July was the driest month on record for San Juan in more than 120 years.

In its August 28 discussion, the National Weather Service in San Juan said drought continued to expand and intensify across Puerto Rico, with increasing impacts on streamflows, agriculture, reservoirs and aquifers.

The weather service said moisture associated with Tropical Storm Dolly’s remnants could begin reaching the region as early as late Saturday night, with a potentially wetter pattern on Sunday and early next week. It described that as possible short-term relief from rainfall deficits, while also warning that forecast confidence remained lower than usual because Dolly’s track and structure could change.

Even if rainfall arrives, it would not by itself establish that the broader water-supply situation has recovered. Reservoirs, aquifers and streamflows would need to show meaningful improvement before drought effects on farms, utilities and households ease.

What happens next

For producers in the 26 designated municipalities, the immediate priorities are preserving evidence, confirming FSA records and monitoring instructions for the programs that may apply to their operations. The practical measures of the declaration will be how many producers apply, what assistance is approved and whether coming rainfall improves hydrologic conditions.

USDA also operates a separate Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant program for eligible rural communities facing threats to safe, reliable drinking water. That program is distinct from the agricultural assistance pathways created by the drought designation and does not turn the USDA declaration into direct household water relief.

Sources

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