USDA Offers Opportunities to Help California Producers Rebuild and Recover; Assessments Underway
The
NRCS will immediately begin accepting applications for its EQIP Catastrophic Fire Recovery fund pool to assist producers in covering the cost of certain rehabilitation practices, such as creating check dams in drainages, using damaged trees to slow runoff, repairing culvert systems, and planting tree seedlings. NRCS is waiving the standard 30-day application ranking period and is accepting applications for this initial fund pool through
"NRCS is committed to getting assistance out as soon as possible, and we are cutting some red tape to allow people to get to work immediately," said
NRCS is also offering technical and educational assistance to fire-impacted landowners faced with erosion and flooding in a damaged watershed. NRCS conservationists have expertise in erosion, hydrophobic soils, and the use of measures (such as sand bags, mulching, etc.) to mitigate damage to the landscape.
Additional USDA Assistance Available
NRCS,
FSA can help farmers and ranchers with a range of disaster assistance including compensation for livestock death and feed losses, risk coverage for specialty crops, and repair of damage to agricultural and private forest land. For example, the
"FSA has a number of programs to help wildfire-impacted producers get back on their feet," said
FSA's suite of safety-net programs to help producers recover from eligible losses, includes:
* Livestock Indemnity Program;
* Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program; and
*
Additionally, producers located in counties that receive a primary or contiguous disaster designation are eligible for low-interest emergency loans to help them recover from production and physical losses.
Compensation is also available to producers who purchased coverage through the
Federal crop insurance protects producers against losses due to natural perils, such as wildfires. The program, administered by RMA, offers several plans for crops and livestock in
Watershed Assistance
"EWP allows us to provide immediate assistance to communities to mitigate potential hazards to life and property resulting from the fires," said Tarver with NRCS. "It is work we can do with a local sponsor to help a damaged watershed channel water and mitigate erosion so that lives and property are protected and additional hardships are not heaped upon the devastated community."
With the high potential for winter rains, burned areas are at greater risk for erosion and mudflows and EWP-type services are key to preventing further damage. The program requires local government bodies or other sponsor to assist with on-the-ground work including concrete barriers and debris basins, mulching, straw wattles, and other damage control measures.
More Information
For more information on available NRCS, FSA or RMA assistance, contact a local field office, or visit www.usda.gov
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