SALT LAKE CITY, July 17, 2026 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is providing $500,000 in emergency funding through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to Utah farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners impacted by recent wildfires. Applications will be accepted from producers across the state until July 31, 2026.

“The impacts of wildfire can be a significant challenge, and our staff is ready to assist producers in implementing conservation practices to support the recovery of their agricultural operations,” said Arelys Ortiz, acting state conservationist for NRCS Utah. 

NRCS staff are available to assess damage, develop conservation plans, and help determine which practices will best support recovery efforts. 

NRCS will be prioritizing the following conservation practices to assist eligible producers:

• Fence and Virtual Fencing
• Grazing Management
• Seeding
• Tree Planting
• Stock water
• Brush Management

Producers are encouraged to contact their local USDA Service Center as soon as possible to apply for assistance.             

More information

Additional USDA disaster assistance information can be found on farmers.gov, including USDA resources specifically for producers impacted by drought and wildfire. Those resources include the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster-at-a-Glance fact sheet, Loan Assistance Tool, and Natural Disasters and Crop Insurance fact sheet. 

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