WYOMING — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Tuesday, Sept. 2, that it’s offering technical and financial assistance to eligible farmers and livestock producers who have been impacted by recent wildfires and drought conditions.
“USDA has a suite of programs to support farmers and ranchers as they recover from disasters,” Farm Production and Conservation Deputy Under Secretary Brooke Appleton said via press release. “I encourage impacted producers to contact their local USDA Service Center to report losses and learn more about program options available to assist in their recovery from crop, land, infrastructure and livestock losses and damages.”
According to the USDA, producers who have experienced livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality or sold injured livestock at reduced prices could be eligible for the Livestock Indemnity Program. The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program provides farmers with compensation for feed and grazing losses. Livestock producers affected by a severe drought or similar natural disasters could receive emergency and nonemergency haying and grazing funds through the Conservation Reserve Program.
Additionally, orchardists and nursery tree growers could be eligible for cost-share assistance through the Tree Assistance Program to replant or rehabilitate trees, bushes or vines.
Several USDA conservation programs are also offering assistance to landowners and communities. The Emergency Conservation Program can assist farmers with removing debris from cropland or pastureland, including woody material, sand, rock and other materials. Additionally, the Emergency Forest Restoration Program can assist private landowners with removing debris, repairing forestland roads and replacing fence. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program can help producers plan and implement conservation practices on land impacted by natural disasters. The Emergency Watershed Protection program helps local government sponsors with the cost of addressing watershed impairments or hazards, such as debris removal and streambank stabilization.
“At USDA, we serve as a partner to help landowners with their resiliency and recovery efforts,” USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service State Conservationist Jackie Byam said. “Our staff will work one-on-one with landowners to make assessments of the damages and develop methods that focus on effective recovery of the land.”
For more information and application deadlines, refer to each program’s website.
