Ag News

USDA offers guide to farmers who seek federal disaster aid

The USDA offered this brief guide to farmers seeking help in their farm recovery from damaged caused by Hurricane Helene:

Documenting Loss 

USDA encouraged farmers to document damage and losses their operation has sustained as best they can, including gathering farm records, herd inventory, receipts and pictures of damages or losses. Livestock producers are advised to document livestock numbers by taking time and date-stamped video or pictures of injury or loss, to the extent possible. The USDA indicated its understanding that these are extremely extenuating and stressful circumstances and there may be instances where documentation is lost, destroyed or unattainable.

Reporting Loss 

Once you are able to safely evaluate the impact on your operation, be sure to contact your local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) county office or your crop insurance agent to report all crop, livestock and farm infrastructure damages and losses. For producers who have risk protection through Federal Crop Insurance, the USDA Risk Management Agency has authorized Approved Insurance Providers to provide flexibility on reporting requirements for those who are unable to report losses due the disaster. 

Available Assistance 

Producers in counties with a primary or contiguous disaster designation may be eligible for low interest emergency loans to help them recover from production and physical losses.

Additionally, FSA offers several loan servicing options available for borrowers who are unable to make scheduled payments on their farm loan programs debt to the agency because of reasons beyond their control. 

Meanwhile, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service provides financial resources through its Environmental Quality Incentives Program to help with immediate needs and long-term support to help recover from natural disasters and conserve water resources. Assistance may also be available for emergency animal mortality disposal from natural disasters and other causes.  

Because of the need to dispose of poultry and livestock quickly to mitigate environmental and disease impacts, hurricane-impacted producers in those states can begin disposing of poultry once an initial application is submitted. NRCS is using the flexibility of an early-start waiver to producers once an initial application is submitted. An initial application includes a call, letter or email to NRCS with:

Producer name(s)

Farm location(s) address

Farm number, if available

Phone number

Estimated number and type of poultry or livestock

The producer can work with NRCS to complete the rest of the EQIP application and receive financial assistance after disposal. Your local NRCS conservationist can share additional details, including payment rate for disposal.

For more information, contact NRCS at your local USDA Service Center. For information on other USDA programs, including its suite of Farm Service Agency disaster assistance programs, visit farmers.gov/hurricane.

Online Resources and Tools 

To learn more about programs available to producers here are some resources on www.farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Farm Loan Assistance Tool can help you determine program or loan options.  Additionally, FarmRaise offers an FSA educational hub with livestock disaster assistance decision tools as well as farm loan resource videos. 

Disaster Recovery Programs: Flexibilities and Waivers  

USDA has issued program delivery flexibilities and waivers.  We know this is a lot of information, but we want you to know what’s available as quickly as possible. As the recovery process progresses, there may be more flexibilities and waivers needed. Updated information will be timely shared as details unfold. 

The information below describes some of the current program flexibilities and waivers, as of Oct. 3, 2024, available for producers impacted by Hurricane Helene. To learn about benefits available through our recovery programs including those listed below, please view the  Disaster-at-a-Glance fact sheet. 

Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP): 

Extended ECP and EFRP signup that begins Oct. 15, 2024, and runs through June 1, 2025, in states affected by Hurricane Helene.

Waiver of onsite inspection requirement for non-engineering practices for ECP and EFRP. 

Executed Emergency Response (ER-850) authorization of emergency National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) circumstances to expedite FSA approval of practices involving surface debris removal, fence restoration, and non-ground disturbing activities. 

Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP): 

Guidance to FSA County Committees and local staff to exercise maximum flexibility in determining acceptable loss documentation and to ensure LIP applications are acted on timely. 

Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP):  

Assistance to help cover above normal costs to transport livestock to feed and/or transport feed/forage to livestock in hurricane-impacted states. 

Assistance to help cover above normal costs to haul water to livestock in hurricane-impacted states. 

Tree Assistance Program (TAP):  

Extension of TAP assistance to trees/bushes/vines that have not died but are no longer capable of production (not economically viable). 

Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP): 

Waiver of 72-hour notification requirement on hand harvested crops. 

Extended deadline to file a Notice of Loss with FSA. 

Flexibility for FSA staff to perform loss adjustment activities and/or waive field inspections in cases where the cause of loss can be verified through other means. 

Marketing Assistance Loans (MAL):  

Additional time for producers to deliver commodities to a buyer to repay MALs with sale proceeds.

Postponement of MAL foreclosure letters applicable to losses or damages due to hurricanes for up to 90 calendar days.

Contact USDA 

To file a Notice of Loss or to ask questions about available programs, contact your local USDA Service Center.    

USDA has resources available through the FSA call center at 877-508-8364, the USDA hotline at 833-ONE-USDA (663-8732), or producers can access program information online at farmers.gov. 

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