FSA offers programs that assist with some hurricane recovery

Published 5:05 pm Saturday, December 1, 2018

MOULTRIE, Ga. — Hurricane Michael caused severe damage in Colquitt County. The Farm Service Agency is administering two programs that may benefit eligible farm or timber producers.

Emergency Conservation Program

Producers suffering severe damage may be eligible for assistance under the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) if the damage:

• Will be so costly to rehabilitate that federal assistance is or will be needed to return the land to productive agricultural use.

• Is unusual and is not the type that would recur frequently in the same area.

• Affects the productive capacity of the farmland.

• Will impair or endanger the land.

A producer qualifying for ECP assistance may receive cost-share levels not to exceed 75 percent of the eligible cost of restoration measures. No producer is eligible for more than $200,000 cost sharing per natural disaster occurrence.

The following types of measures may be eligible:

• Removing debris from farmland.

• Grading, shaping, or releveling severely damaged farmland.

• Restoring permanent fences.

• Restoring conservation structures and other similar installations.

Emergency Forest Restoration Program

Nonindustrial private forest landowners suffering severe damage may be eligible for assistance under the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) if the damage is caused by a natural disaster to natural resources on NIPF land and if untreated would:

• Impair or endanger the natural resources on the land.

• Materially affect the use of the land.

A producer qualifying for EFRP assistance may receive financial assistance levels not to exceed 75 percent of the eligible cost of restoration measures. No producer is eligible for more than $500,000 cost sharing per natural disaster occurrence. The emergency measures must restore forest health and forest-related resources.

The following types of measures may be eligible:

• Removing debris.

• Site preparation.

• Seeding establishment.

• Restoring conservation structures and other similar installations.

Contact the FSA

Producers who have suffered a loss from a natural disaster may contact the Colquitt FSA County Office and request assistance from Dec. 3, 2018, through Jan. 3, 2019.

To be eligible for assistance, practices must not be started until all of the following are met:

• An application for financial assistance (FSA-848) has been filed.

• The local FSA County Committee or its representative has conducted an onsite inspection of the damaged area.

• The agency responsible for technical assistance has made a needs determination for required rehabilitation.

For more information about either program, please contact the Colquitt County FSA office at (229) 985-6509 or visit www.fsa.usda.gov.