Special to The Beacon
BLACKSHEAR — Tropical Storm Debby caused significant damage in Brantley County.
Farms and ranches suffering damage may be eligible for assistance under the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) administered by the Pierce Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Office if the damage:
• will be so costly to rehabilitate that Federal assistance is or will be needed to return the land to productive agricultural use
• is unusual and is not the type that would recur frequently in the same area
• affect the productive capacity of the farmland
• will impair or endanger the land. A producer qualifying for ECP assistance may receive cost-share levels not to exceed 75 percent of the eligible cost of restoration measures. No producer is eligible for more than $500,000 cost sharing per natural disaster occurrence.
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 who have suffered a loss from a natural disaster may contact the local FSA County Office and request assistance from September 23, 2024, through October 23, 2024.
To be eligible for assistance, practices must not be started until all of the following are met:
• an application for cost-share assistance has been filed
• the local FSA County Committee (COC) or its representative has conducted an onsite inspection of the damaged orchards
• the Agency responsible for technical assistance, has made a needs determination for required rehabilitation.
For more information about ECP, please contact the Pierce County FSA office at 912-449-5303 or visit www.fsa.usda.gov/sc.
