COLUMBUS — USDA has approved Clermont and Coshocton counties in Ohio for implementation of the Emergency Conservation Program as a result of Tropical Depression Ike.
Ohio was allocated $375,000 to repair the conservation systems damaged by the storm.
“Producers will be able to use the money to remove farmland debris, restore fences and repair conservation structures which were damaged by the hurricane,” said John Stevenson, state Farm Service Agency director.
Eligibility
To be eligible for cost-share, practices shall not be started until a request has first been filed at the FSA county office and an onsite inspection of the problem area has been made by the county committee or its representative.
Producers can contact their local FSA offices regarding ECP sign-up periods, which are set by the county FSA committee.
For a producer’s land to be eligible, the disaster must create new conservation problems that, if left untreated, would impair or endanger the land and affect its productive capacity. Conservation problems that existed before the applicable disasters are not eligible for ECP assistance.
To be eligible for ECP assistance the applicant must have sustained a minimum of $1,000 of eligible damage.
Also, the land must be so costly to rehabilitate that federal assistance is required to return the land to a productive agricultural use.
Producers who have experienced damage caused from Tropical Depression Ike should contact the local FSA office.
