Funds may be available to restore flooded farmland

Producers who have suffered severe losses as a result of recent flooding may be eligible for assistance under the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) admin­istered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) in these Missouri counties: Boone, Callaway, Carroll, Chariton, Clark, Clay, Cooper, Daviess, Gentry, Grundy, Howard, Jackson, Lafay­ette, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Livingston, Marion, Mercer, Moni­teau, Pike, Ray, Saline, Sullivan, St. Charles and St. Louis.

A producer qualifying for ECP assistance may receive cost-share levels up to 75 percent of the eligible cost of restoration measures. The 2018 Farm Bill authorizes socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers and ranchers to earn up to 90 percent cost share of the total allowable costs.

The following types of measures may be eligible:

• • Removing debris from farmland
• • Grading, shaping or releveling severely damaged farmland
• • Restoring permanent fences
• • Restoring conservation structures and other similar in­stallations

Producers should contact their local FSA county office to request assistance until Aug. 30, 2019. For more informa­tion, visit www.fsa.usda.gov.

In July, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Ser­vice (NRCS) announced the availability of $217.5 million dedicated to funding conservation easements on certain lands damaged by flooding and other natural disasters. Funds are made available through the floodplain easement component of the Emergency Watershed Protection Pro­gram. Missouri, Arkansas and Iowa are among the 11 states currently identified for funding.

In this voluntary program, eligible applicants agree to sell a permanent conservation easement to the United States through NRCS. Compensation is based on the value of the easement as determined by an appraisal or market analysis. These easements may occur on public or private agricultur­al land or residential properties damaged by flooding and natural disasters. NRCS will work to restore the easement to its natural floodplain condition.

Individuals and communities in any state are encouraged to contact their local NRCS field offices for more informa­tion on these floodplain easement opportunities or visit www.nrcs.usda.gov.