There is some good news for farmers and ranchers who suffered losses and damages from Hurricane Ike in September. Thanks to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and our state’s senators and representatives in Congress, $13.7 million in funds are available to Texas farmers and ranchers in 20 designated counties.
Texas farmers and ranchers can apply for the funding to pay for things like debris removal and fence restoration. But there are some limited conditions in order for land to be eligible. Hurricane Ike must have created new conservation problems that, if untreated, would:
- Impair or endanger the land
- Materially affect the land's productive capacity
- Represent unusual damage which, except for wind erosion, is not the type likely to recur frequently in the same area
- Be so costly to repair that federal assistance is or will be required to return the land to productive agricultural use
To see if you are eligible and to apply, visit www.usda.gov for more information on the program. The ECP application period is for 60 days. Sign-up dates for counties impacted by Hurricane Ike are as follows:
Dec. 1, 2008 – Jan. 29, 2009 Jan. 5 – Mar. 5, 2009
Angelina County Brazoria County
Cherokee County Chambers County
Houston County Galveston County
Jasper County Hardin County
Nacogdoches County Harris County
Newton County Jefferson County
Polk County Liberty County
Rusk County Montgomery County
San Jacinto County Orange County
Trinity County
Tyler County
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