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If you are experiencing a flood, please save this email with information on programs that are available to support your recovery efforts, and how to document your losses.
Note: for immediate emergency information and support please contact your local county or city emergency management department.
USDA Farm Services Agency (FSA) has several emergency relief programs that can help with post-flood recovery. To qualify for this coverage:
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Contact your local FSA office at the first sign of damage. Damage reports are needed to request funding for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP), so please report early, even if you only have general information to share at this point. If your farm is not already registered with USDA, they can help start that process.
- Find Your Local USDA Service Center | Farmers.gov
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Document damage or losses with photos that are date stamped (phone cameras do this automatically).
Damage or losses that may be covered by various programs include the following (this list is not exhaustive – please contact FSA for more information):
- Removing debris from farmland
- Grading, shaping, or leveling land
- Restoring permanent fences
- Restoring conservation structures
- Payment Rates: ECP provides cost-share assistance of up to 75% of the cost of approved conservation practices. Limited resource producers may be eligible for up to 90% cost-share.
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Do not begin restoration efforts for the above covered practices until after a contract is signed and approved and you are given the green light.
- Feed/forage losses including purchased or harvested feed stored on the farm, additional feed purchased, and additional cost of feed delivery
- Grazing losses due to flooding
- Honeybee hive, colony, and feed losses due to flood
- Payment Rates: Payments vary by the type of loss. Specific rates are detailed in program guidelines.
- Livestock death losses in excess of normal mortality
- Payment rates are based on the fair market value of the livestock. The 2025 rates are available here.
- Emergency Farm Loans offer crucial financial support to farmers and ranchers impacted by natural disasters such as drought, flooding, storms, wildfires, earthquakes, and other declared disasters. These loans can be used to restore or replace essential property, cover production costs, pay essential family living expenses, and refinance certain debts. The aim is to help producers recover swiftly and maintain the viability of their operations during and after disaster recovery.
- Eligible applicants include farmers and ranchers who operate in a disaster-designated county and have experienced substantial damage or loss. Applicants must demonstrate an inability to obtain sufficient credit from other sources to cover their disaster-related needs.
- These will be announced within several months of disaster designations. Please contact FSA to learn more. We will include the announcement when they are available in the Regional Markets newsletter.
For additional flood preparation and recovery information, please visit our website: Floods | Washington State Department of Agriculture
Please stay safe and take care of each other. We are here to support, so please don’t hesitate to reach out.
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