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NRCS Vermont Allocates $4 Million to Assist Farmers Recover from Floods

Deadline to apply is September 1, 2023
Publish Date
Fields at Conant's Riverside Farm after flooding in July 2023

NRCS Vermont Allocates $4 Million to Assist Farmers Recover from Floods

Colchester, VT - August 11, 2023 - Beginning today, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Vermont is setting aside $4 million in federal financial assistance to help Vermont's agricultural producers recover from recent flooding. 

"NRCS recognizes the incredible hardships faced by producers across the state of Vermont," said Travis Thomason, Vermont State Conservationist. "In difficult times like these, it is incredibly important for us to stand by those affected by the flooding so we can get back to being our best."

This funding applies to resource concerns that threaten the ongoing agricultural operation or create an imminent threat to agricultural operations. The only eligible practices under this EQIP-Disaster Assistance signup are the following seven practices: Cover Crop; Critical Area Planting; Fence; Pasture and Hay Planting; Mulching; Residue and Tillage Management, Reduced Till; Feed Management.

Additional Information for Practices Damaged by the Natural Disaster:

  • For damaged practices installed and certified under an active Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) contract that has not yet expired, the contract may be modified allowing participant to re-install the damaged practice(s).
  • For damaged practices installed and certified under a past EQIP contract, producers may sign up for EQIP to re-install the practice(s) at the current payment rates.
  • For damaged practices that were never certified by NRCS through any conservation program, producers may sign up for EQIP to install NRCS practices as long as all EQIP eligibility requirements are met.

 

Other Requirements for NRCS Practices:

  • All installed practices must meet NRCS practice standards including: design and specifications.
  • Practices installed or work performed prior to an approved engineering design or practice plan is not eligible for EQIP.
  • Practices approved for EQIP-Disaster funding do not overlap with the Farm Service Agency’s Emergency Conservation Program (ECP). Producers should seek assistance either through ECP or EQIP depending on the type of practice(s) that was damaged.

The deadline to apply for this disaster assistance funding is September 1, 2023.

Please visit your local NRCS service center to apply, which can be found at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/find-a-service-center.

Since its inception in 1935, NRCS has worked in partnership with private landowners and a variety of local, state, and federal conservation partners to deliver conservation based on specific, local needs. Please visit www.vt.nrcs.usda.gov for more information about NRCS.