May 30, 2019 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Lance Jacobs announced the Nacogdoches USDA Service Center is continuing to take applications for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP). This program addresses damages from Tornadic Activity on Saturday, April 13, 2019 in Nacogdoches County and Wednesday, April 24, 2019 in San Augustine County. ECP signup began on May 13, 2019, and will end on June 11, 2019.
The approved ECP practices under this authorization include:
• EC1 Removing Debris From Farmland
• EC2 Grading, Shaping, Releveling, or Similar Measures
• EC3 Restoring Permanent Fences
• EC4 Restoring Conservation Structures and Other Installations
ECP assists producers with the recovery cost to restore the agricultural land to pre-disaster conditions. Approved ECP applicants may receive up to 75 percent of the cost of approved restoration activity. Eligible socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers and ranchers can receive up to 90 percent of the eligible cost of restoration.
“Dealing with natural disasters is never easy, especially when you have to consider the health and safety of livestock, but it’s important for producers to call our office before they take any action,” said Jacobs.
Producers with damage from such events must apply for assistance prior to beginning reconstructive work. FSA’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and environmental compliance review process is required to be completed before any actions are taken. Submitting an application after reconstructive work has been completed may not qualify for ECP.
FSA county committees will evaluate applications based on an on-site inspection of the damaged land, taking into consideration the type and extent of the damage. An on-site inspection does not guarantee that cost-share funding will be provided.
The use of ECP funds is limited to activities to return the land to the relative pre-disaster condition. Conservation concerns that were present on the land prior to the disaster are not eligible for ECP assistance.
For more information on ECP, please contact the Nacogdoches County FSA office at (936) 564-5891 extension 2 or visit https://www.farmers.gov/recover.
