USDA extends deadline for Helene-damaged farms in Western NC to apply for funds
After Helene swept through the state, bringing historic flooding that battered farms in low-lying river valleys, Henderson County's agriculture community alone lost between $135 to $150 million, Cooperative Extension Director Terry Kelley estimated in January. A recent report from the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, an Asheville-based nonprofit, showed 86% of 300 surveyed farmers experienced damage to their operations in WNC and 70% to their land or waterways. The average recovery cost, it said, was $40,000.
Now, the USDA through its Farm Service Agency is extending the deadline to Aug. 4 for local growers and nonindustrial private forestland owners to apply for assistance through two programs: The Emergency Conservation Program and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program.
Here are some details from the USDA on how to apply and who is eligible.
The Emergency Conservation Program, administered by the Farm Service Agency, offers financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to repair and restore farmland impacted by natural disasters, including hurricanes. The program helps farmers and ranchers "rehabilitate damaged land, restore agricultural production, and prevent further environmental degradation," according to the agency's website. Approved practices include:
debris removal from farmland
grading, shaping and releveling
permanent fence restoration
restoration of conservation practices
emergency soil erosion control measures
dairy relocation
field windbreaks and farmstead shelterbelt restoration
Farmers who apply and are approved for the program can receive up to 75% of the cost of these restorations, according to a USDA news release. The maximum cost share is $500,000.
Local growers can receive advanced payments up to 25% of the cost before the restoration is completed. These payments must be spent within 60 days, the release said.
Helene's impact on local agriculture: Few relief options for Henderson County farmers — local growers face $135 million loss
Any farmer or rancher who has suffered damage to their farmland due to a natural disaster is eligible for the program, according to USDA's website. Producers who lease federally owned or managed lands, including tribal trust land, are also eligible.
The damage must "significantly impair the land's agricultural productivity or pose a threat to land or water resources," the website says. The program is for restoring farmland to pre-disaster conditions. Conservation concerns on the land that predate the natural disaster are not covered.
Helene's impact on small WNC farms: 'Our farm wiped off map from Helene:' ASAP reports impact to small Western NC farmers
To apply for the conservation program, producers must submit a request for assistance to their local Farm Service Agency office. The process includes a damage assessment, documentation of the disaster impact, and a description of the proposed conservation measures.
To expedite approval, FSA has waived the need for on-site inspection for all non-engineering work. Find the closest Farm Service Agency office in WNC at www.farmers.gov/working-with-us/service-center-locator.
The Emergency Forest Restoration Program helps non-industrial private forest owners restore forest health damaged by natural disasters, according to USDA's website. To qualify, the private forest must have tree coverage that existed before the natural disaster. Helene damage must harm the natural resources on the land and significantly affect future land use if not remedied.
Unlike the conservation program for farmers, payments are not provided upfront. Up to 75% of the cost to implement emergency conservation practices can be provided, however the final amount is determined by the committee reviewing the application, according to the website.
The maximum cost share is $500,000 per person for a single natural disaster. The land must be owned or leased by a nonindustrial private person or entity to qualify. Approved disaster recovery includes:
debris removal, such as down or damaged trees, to establish a new stand or provide for natural regeneration
site preparation, planting materials and labor to replant forest stand
restoration of forestland roads, fire lanes, fuel breaks or erosion control structures
fencing, tree shelters and tree tubes to protect trees from wildlife damage
wildlife enhancement to provide cover openings and wildlife habitat
To expedite the process, the USDA has waived the requirement for owners to get approval before conducting debris removal, fence repair and hazard tree removal.
To participate in the program, the restorations must meet USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service or state forest agency standards. Forestland owners must also keep records of all restoration costs, including personal labor.
Owners should check with their local FSA office to find out about program sign-up periods.
More: 190,000 acres of Forest Service land impacted by Helene: What's the plan for downed trees?
More: Federal spending cuts kill "massive" plan to plant 10,000 trees in Hendersonville
Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at rober@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: USDA extends deadline for Helene-damaged farms in Western NC
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