USDA Funding to Rehabilitate Farmland Damaged by Disasters
USAgNet - 06/02/2010
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that Emergency Conservation Program funds are being made available to farmers and ranchers in 14 states to repair farmland damaged by natural disasters in
2010.
"USDA is committed to helping farmers and ranchers restore conservation measures on farmland devastated by the recent floods, tornadoes and other disasters," said Vilsack. "These funds will help
producers recover from several potentially devastating events, and further USDA’s ongoing efforts to maintain a healthy agricultural economy that conserves our environment."
Eligible producers in 14 states will be able to use the more than $12 million being made available through ECP to remove farmland debris, restore fences, grade and shape land, and repair conservation
structures that were damaged by floods, tornadoes, or wildfires and to carry out emergency water conservation measures after severe drought.
Conservation problems that existed before the disaster are not eligible for cost-share assistance. USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees determine land eligibility based on on-site inspections
of damage, taking into account the type and extent of damage.
A national map depicting counties receiving FSA funds and disaster types is on the FSA website at www.disaster.fsa.usda.gov.
