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The Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) for the July Flooding signup period will run from September 25, 2023 - November 17, 2023.
Flooding has caused severe damage in multiple areas of the Counties.
If you’ve suffered severe damage, you may be eligible for assistance under the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) administered by the Hampshire/Hampden 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
Practices covered under this round of ECP include:
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EC1 - Removing Debris From Farmland
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This practice:
• removes debris from farmland deposited by a natural disaster which may:
• include woody material, rock, trash, and personal property
• be material deposited by wind or water
• include sand and silt over 12 inches deep
• returns the land to agricultural use.
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EC2 - Grading, Shaping, Releveling, or Similar Measures
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EC3 - Replacing or Restoring Permanent Fences
- This practice corrects damage to fences caused by natural disasters.
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EC4 - Restoring Conservation Structures and Other Installations
- This practice restores conservation structures and installations damaged by natural disasters.
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. No one is eligible for more than $500,000 cost sharing per natural disaster occurrence.
If you’ve suffered a loss from a natural disaster you may contact the local FSA County Office and request assistance.
To be eligible for assistance, practices must not be started until all of 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 your Franklin County USDA Service Center at 413-223-9277 or visit fsa.usda.gov.
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