WASHINGTON – The US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) has announced it will make $6 million in funding available to private ranchers, farmers and forest landowners affected by the wildfires in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will make funds available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to assist local producers in restoring scorched grazing land, rebuilding fences, protecting damaged watersheds, implementing conservation measures and to mitigate losses.
“We have seen the devastating effects of these wildfires on agricultural operations and the funding announced today can help communities of farmers and ranchers start the process of recovery,” said Acting Deputy Agriculture Secretary Michael Young in a statement. “USDA is here to offer assistance, and I encourage producers who experienced losses to take full advantage of our financial and technical assistance to aid in their recovery efforts and alleviate part of the financial burden caused by these tragic events.”
The voluntary EQIP program provides financial and technical assistance to help agricultural producers plan and implement conservation practices that address priority local and state resource concerns. Producers must submit a complete program application; establish “farm records” and other documentation to support eligibility to be considered for financial assistance through EQIP. Click here for step-by-step assistance.
States will begin accepting applications in the near future. Producers in the affected counties are encouraged to check with their local NRCS service centers for additional information.
