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Ferry and Okanogan County Updates  -  August 12, 2026

In This Issue:

• USDA Approves Emergency Conservation Assistance for Okanogan County

USDA Approves Emergency Conservation Assistance for Okanogan County

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Okanogan County is accepting applications for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) to address damages from the B & O wildfire that occurred July 9, 2026 through July 15, 2026. ECP provides cost-share and technical assistance to producers to restore farmland to pre-disaster conditions following a qualifying natural disaster. ECP signup began on August 3, 2026, and ends on October 3, 2026.

Approved ECP applicants can receive up to 75% of the allowable cost of the approved restoration activity with a maximum cost share of $500,000 per natural disaster event.  

Approved ECP practices include: 

• Non-engineering practices:  
  • Debris removal
  • Fence restoration
  • Critical area planting
  • Cover crop planting
  • Windbreak-shelterbelt establishment

• Check with FSA before beginning other work such as:
  • Repairing dams, ponds, irrigation field ditches, lined waterway or underground outlet
  • Grading, shaping or releveling
  • Repairing grade stabilization structures, grassed waterways or terraces

ECP cost-share assistance can provide advance payments for up to 25% of the total allowable cost for all ECP practices before the restoration is carried out. The advance payment must be spent within 60 days.

Producers who lease federally owned or managed lands, including tribal trust land, as well as state land, are eligible to participate in ECP.  

Conservation concerns present on the land prior to the qualifying natural disaster event are not eligible for ECP assistance.  

Eligibility and Environmental Requirements

To allow producers to begin their recovery efforts sooner, FSA is offering flexibilities that apply to certain non-ground disturbing practices.

FSA is waiving the onsite inspection for certain ECP practices to remove surface debris and repair fencing. Additionally, FSA is waiving the requirement for producers to obtain prior approval to conduct surface debris removal and fence repair to support critical disaster recovery efforts.  

FSA is streamlining environmental compliance reviews due to the impacts of this disaster event. However, FSA will continue to complete on-site environmental reviews for applicants who do not meet the required conditions.

More Information

To learn more about ECP, producers can contact the Okanogan County FSA Office at 509-422-2750 or visit farmers.gov/protection-recovery.

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