Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Local Farmers May Apply For USDA Cost-Share Assistance

  A lack of moisture, over an extended period of time, has caused producers in Lawrence and Wayne Counties to suffer from the effects of severe drought conditions. Farms experiencing severe drought conditions may be eligible for cost-share assistance under ECP. This disaster program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency, which provides cost-shared assistance if the damage is so severe that water available for livestock or orchards and vineyards has been reduced below normal to the extent that neither can survive without additional water.

  A producer qualifying for ECP assistance may receive cost shares not to exceed 75 percent of the cost of installing eligible temporary measures. Cost sharing for permanent measures are based on 50 percent of the total eligible cost. Cost-share assistance is limited to $200,000 per person per natural disaster. The minimum cost of restoration is set at $1,000. Approved practices and measures may include:
*installing pipelines or other facilities for livestock water or existing irrigation systems for orchards and vineyards.
*constructing and deepening wells for livestock water.
*developing springs or seeps for livestock water.
*silt removal from water impoundment structures where there is an immediate supply of water from a natural source such as a spring or seep that can refill the pond with-in one week.

  Producers who have experienced severe drought conditions requiring outside assistance to provide supplemental emergency livestock water may contact the local FSA County Office. Request for assistance will be accepted at FSA County Office from August 20th to September 8th, 2007. However, no funds are currently available for allocation.

  To be eligible for cost share, practices shall not be started until a request has been filed at the FSA County Office and an onsite inspection of the problem area has been made by COC or its representative. If the practice has already been started then applications must be made before September 3rd 2007 and these will be looked at on a case by case basis. COC will review the inspection findings when considering the request for cost share. This does not imply that cost share assistance will be made available.

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