Drought Got You Dry? Try The Emergency Conservation Program

""44.6% of the United States including Puerto Rico""

- Curtis Riganti at the National Drought Mitigation Center on the spread of moderate to exceptional drought in our nation

What’s top of mind for farm profitability?

Conservation in the midst of nationwide drought.

Drought persisted across much of the West, Southwest and Texas this week. Additionally, flash drought over parts of the Great Plains, Ozarks, and Mississippi Valley continued to intensify and cause agricultural problems.

So it’s dry everywhere?

Actually, no. While there’s drought elsewhere, the lower Great Plains and Midwest experienced heavy rainfall.

That’s good right?

While the rains might have improved regional drought conditions, it did lead to severe flooding in the St. Louis Metro area. This metropolitan region had previously been experiencing abnormally dry conditions.

So what can I do to protect my operation?

With drought continuing to effect innumerable farmers within the FarmRaise community, we wanted to bring attention to a Farm Service Agency (FSA) program, known as the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP). The ECP can provide emergency funding and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers to revitalize land following natural disasters and implement emergency water conservation measures during periods of severe drought.

This week’s Farm Prosperity Checklist offers a bit more information regarding this farmland rehabilitation and conservation program.

This Week's Prosperity Checklist: Emergency Conservation Program (ECP)

1. What land is eligible?‍

Land that is used as:

• Commercial farms, ranches and orchards
• Tree and shrub nurseries
• Christmas tree plantations
• Grazing pastures for livestock production
• Conservation structures like waterways, terraces, diversions and windbreaks.

2. Payment structure of ECP

This cost-sharing program features different payment tiers:

• Up to 75% of the cost to implement approved restoration practices, including but not limited to removing debris from farmland, restoring fences, or restoring conservation structures
• Up to 90% of the cost to implement approved restoration practices for limited resource, socially disadvantaged or beginning farmers/ranchers
• Advance payment of up to 25% of the cost-share estimate is available, but only for the replacement or repair of damaged fencing.

3. What to do following natural disaster or extended drought

• Document damage with dated photographs and/or videos
• Report damage to local USDA Service Center as soon as possible in order to address the urgency of your situation
• The county FSA office will provide guidance regarding next steps for approval of ECP funding. Often your reported damage will be subject to an onsite inspection.

ABC: Always Be Calling... Your FSA office

‍
Enrollment periods and eligibility for ECP vary across states. Contacting your local FSA is the best way to understand possible cost share funding opportunities afforded through Emergency Conservation Program.

FIND YOUR USDA SERVICE CENTER

This week's survey results are in:

We're falling on dry times. Even tropical island, Puerto Rico, has been experiencing drought. Farmers are on the frontlines of climate change. If you need support, consider the ECP or apply for funding to switch to regenerative practices that will make your farm or ranch more drought resistant.

Did you like this article? Get info like this delivered to your inbox before it's published here on FarmRaise.com by signing up for the Morning Briefing. 📧