News Release

NRCS South Dakota Announces Aid for Land/Crops Damaged by Excessive Rains or Severe Storms

Colette Kessler, State Public Affairs Officer
colette.kessler@sd.usda.gov | (605) 220-1765
July 12, 2018 

NRCS South Dakota Announces Aid for Land/Crops Damaged by Excessive Rains or Severe Storms

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE, HURON, SD. JULY 13, 2018 - Help for farmers and ranchers with land damaged by excessive rains or severe storms, such as from hail or flooding, is now available through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) serving South Dakota, announces Jeff Zimprich, State Conservationist for the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Huron, SD. 

     "Many agriculture producers across South Dakota are increasingly incorporating cover crops to their operation," says Zimprich. "We see these recent unfortunate excessive rain or severe storm damage as an opportunity for NRCS to help farmers and ranchers to try cover crops through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)."

     "We are making funds available for those affected areas of South Dakota. The sign-up for damaged land and/or crops is open now," Zimprich says. "Through the EQIP, we are offering assistance for producers for cover crops to provide protection to the soil for the remainder of the season, plus any practice that is needed to deal with soil erosion caused by heavy rains or flooding."

     "Our local NRCS field employees are ready to help people with their resource concerns. Affected ag operators should contact their servicing office right away and must apply before August 24, 2018 to be considered," says Zimprich.  "To speed the assistance process, we will hold weekly batching periods ending each Friday starting July 20 with a final batching date in August."

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