Emergency Conservation Program sign-up

Tropical Storm Debby caused significant damage throughout Emanuel County. If you’ve suffered severe damage, you may be eligible for assistance under the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) administered by the Emanuel County Farm Service Agency (FSA). For land to be eligible, the natural disaster must create new conservation problems that, if untreated, would:

• 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

• affect the productive capacity of the farmland

• impair or endanger the land.

If you qualify for ECP assistance, you may receive cost-share levels not to exceed 75 percent of the eligible cost of restoration measures. Eligible socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers and ranchers can receive up to 90 percent of the eligible cost of restoration.

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If you’ve suffered a loss from a natural disaster, you may contact the local FSA County Office and request assistance from September 23 through October 23, 2024.

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

• an application for cost-share assistance has been filed

• the local FSA County Committee (COC) or its representative has conducted an onsite inspection of the damaged area

• the Agency responsible for technical assistance, such as the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), has made a needs determination, which may include cubic yards of earthmoving, etc. required for rehabilitation.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), FSA must complete an environmental compliance review prior to producers taking any actions.

For more information about ECP, contact the Emanuel County USDA Service Center at 478-237-8866 EXT. 2 or visit fsa.usda.gov.