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USDA offers disaster assistance to Iowa farmers

USDA offers disaster assistance to Iowa farmers


By Andi Anderson

Agricultural operations in Iowa have been significantly impacted by recent heavy rain and flooding. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering technical and financial assistance to help farmers and livestock producers recover from these adverse weather events.

Impacted producers should contact their local USDA Service Center to report losses and learn more about available program options for recovery from crop, land, infrastructure, and livestock damages.

USDA Disaster Assistance:

Farmers experiencing livestock deaths beyond normal levels or selling injured livestock at reduced prices may be eligible for the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP).

To participate, producers must provide documentation of death losses or reduced sales due to eligible adverse weather events and submit a notice of loss to the USDA Farm Service Agency by March 3, 2025, for 2024 losses.

The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) offers compensation for feed and grazing losses. Producers need to complete a notice of loss and a payment application to their local FSA office by January 30, 2025, for 2024 losses.

Orchardists and nursery tree growers may be eligible for cost-share assistance through the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes, or vines. TAP complements the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) or crop insurance coverage, covering the plants rather than just the crops.

Matt Russell, State Executive Director for FSA in Iowa, advises farmers, “Once you are able to evaluate the impact of the recent heavy rain and flooding on your operation, be sure to contact your local FSA county office to timely report all crop, livestock and farm infrastructure damages and losses.” He adds, “To expedite FSA disaster assistance, you will likely need to provide documents, such as farm records, herd inventory, receipts and pictures of damages or losses.”

The USDA also offers various direct and guaranteed farm loans, including operating and emergency farm loans, to producers unable to secure commercial financing.

Producers in counties with primary or contiguous disaster designations may be eligible for low-interest emergency loans to recover from production and physical losses.

The Farm Storage Facility Loan Program (FSFL) provides low-interest financing for building, repairing, replacing, or upgrading storage facilities.

Risk Management:

Producers with Federal Crop Insurance or FSA’s NAP should report crop damage to their crop insurance agent or FSA office.

Amber Rhode, Acting Director of USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) Regional Office covering Iowa, emphasizes, “Crop insurance and other USDA risk management options are offered to help producers manage risk because we never know what nature has in store for the future.”

Conservation:

The Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) assist landowners with financial and technical support to restore damaged farmland or forests.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) helps implement conservation practices on land impacted by natural disasters.

Jon Hubbert, NRCS State Conservationist in Iowa, notes, “The Natural Resources Conservation Service can be a very valuable partner to help landowners with their recovery by utilizing conservation measures to minimize storm impacts for future weather events.”

Assistance for Communities:

The Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program helps local government sponsors with the cost of addressing watershed impairments or hazards such as debris removal and streambank stabilization. NRCS can cover up to 75% of eligible construction costs, with the remaining costs coming from local sources.

Photo Credit: usda

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Categories: Iowa, Government & Policy

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