USDA/FSA Executive Director for Iowa, John R. Whitaker, has announced that $10.8 million of Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) funding has been received for Iowa’s farmers to repair land that was damaged by 2011 natural disasters. Counties receiving ECP funds for Missouri River Flooding are:  Woodbury, Monona, Harrison, West Pottawattamie, Mills, and Fremont.  Woodbury County will also receive funding under the EFRP program.  Dubuque, Benton, and Tama Counties will receive ECP funding for damages related to 2011 summer storms.  

ECP provides cost share assistance to rehabilitate farmland and conservation structures. Producers/landowners who have suffered terrace washouts, flood debris in the fields and deposits, fences washed out and other damage to eligible conservation structures should contact the local FSA office for more information. EFRP participants may implement emergency forest restoration practices, including emergency measures necessary to repair damage caused by natural disaster to natural resources on nonindustrial private forestland and restore forest health and forest related resources on land.  

FSA County Committee’s determine eligibility based on on-site inspections of the damaged land and consider the type and extent of the damage. If you would like to learn more about ECP, EFRP, or other programs administered by FSA, please contact your local office or go online to www.fsa.usda.gov