Disaster Aid Accelerates for Florida Farms After Hurricanes
October 30, 2024 For farmers directly impacted by natural disasters, finding paths to recovery is paramount. Luckily, there are programs in place to activate when needed. Those programs are needed now. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida has begun accepting applications for disaster assistance funding through Emergency Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) to provide technical and financial assistance to agricultural landowners and producers in recovering from damages caused by hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton.
According to NRCS Florida, roughly $26 million will be made available for EQIP disaster aid applicants. The sign-up period for this disaster assistance is now through December 20, 2024.
NRCS Florida will evaluate disaster assistance applications using the ACT NOW process. ACT NOW allows NRCS to pre-approve ranked application when the ranking score meets or exceeds an established threshold score. The minimum threshold ranking score for EQIP disaster assistance funding is 50 points. Applications will be batched and processed in the order received.
EQIP disaster assistance funding is targeted to the following conservation practices. To expedite hurricane disaster aid, Florida NRCS is offering early start waivers to allow commencement of conservation practices prior to program contract approval.
325 – High Tunnel System
368 – Emergency Animal Mortality Management
384 – Wood Residue Treatment
400 – Bivalve Aquaculture Gear and Biofouling Control
442 – Sprinkler System (center pivots)
484 – Mulching
590 – Nutrient Management
595 – Pest Management Conservation System
612 – Tree/Shrub Establishment
For more information, visit nrcs.usda.gov.