Gov. Pritzker Announces Additional Relief for Illinois Farmers Impacted by March 2026 Storms

Chicago – Today, Governor Pritzker announced the availability of low-interest emergency physical loss loans from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for farmers and producers impacted by a series of severe storms that swept through Kankakee and surrounding counties March 10-11, 2026. The severe storms brought five confirmed tornadoes and record-setting hail, as well as damages to at least 300 properties, including over 30 that were destroyed.

The USDA determined that there were sufficient production losses to warrant a disaster designation for the primary natural disaster area of Kankakee County and the contiguous disaster areas of Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Livingston and Will Counties.

This disaster designation makes farm operators in the primary and contiguous counties eligible to be considered for USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loan assistance, provided eligibility requirements are met. Low-interest emergency physical loss loans through the USDA FSA can help producers repair or replace damaged or destroyed physical property essential to the success of the agricultural operation, including livestock losses.

“Every community impacted by devastating storms and severe weather deserves access to all available relief and assistance from the local county, state or federal levels as folks continue to recover and rebuild,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Our farmers are vital to Illinois communities and our economy, and we will continue working to ensure they have the resources and relief they need to keep recovering.”

“Agriculture is Illinois’ number one industry, and our farmers continue to face significant challenges, from rising input costs and low commodity prices to market volatility caused by tariffs. Severe weather adds another layer of stress and uncertainty,” said IDOA Director Jerry Costello II. “We appreciate Governor Pritzker’s continued efforts to support farmers impacted by storm damage and connect them with the resources they need to recover.”

This emergency loans announcement from the USDA follows Governor Pritzker’s disaster proclamation earlier this summer, which included the Kankakee storms, and provided additional state resources, funding and personnel to help communities recover and rebuild. The U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) disaster declaration in April also allowed Illinois homeowners, renters, businesses and some non-profits to apply for low-interest loans for damages not covered by insurance.

In the immediate aftermath of these storms, Governor Pritzker directed state agencies to provide the State of Illinois’ full support and resources in all response and recovery efforts. That included deploying Illinois State Police, IEMA officials, and Illinois Department of Transportation personnel to coordinate with local leaders. Key response activities included mutual aid support, debris management, volunteer and non-profit assistance, and direct coordination between local, state and federal officials.

Resources

Local FSA offices can provide affected farmers with further information. Additional resources and assistance are also available through USDA’s Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Loan Assistance Tool. To file a Notice of Loss or ask questions about available programs, contact your local USDA Service Center. ​

Examples of property commonly affected include essential farm buildings, fixtures to real estate, equipment, livestock, perennial crops, fruit and nut bearing trees, and harvested or stored crops and hay.

Farmers in eligible counties have until April 2027 to apply for emergency loans.

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