The U-S Department of Agriculture announced ten Nebraska counties have been designated as a disaster area, due to the on-going drought.  Landowners, farmers, and ranchers are eligible for disaster relief payments.  Emergency loans can be filed with the Farm Service Agency office and used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation or the refinance of certain debts.  FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability.  Eligible counties include: Antelope, Boone, Custer, Garfield, Greeley, Holt, Howard, Sherman, Valley, and Wheeler.  Disaster assistance loans can be extended to property owners with farm ground that is contiguous to the named counties.  No word as of yet if any counties in South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota or Iowa will be named.