Oct 22, 2024USDA allocates $26 million for Florida hurricane recovery efforts
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced $26 million in disaster assistance funding to help Florida agricultural producers recover from the recent hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton.
The funding, offered through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), aims to address land and resource damage caused by the storms.
Applications for the EQIP disaster assistance are open from Oct. 18 through Dec. 20, 2024. The NRCS will evaluate applications using the ACT NOW process, which expedites approval for those meeting a minimum ranking score of 50 points. Applicants will be prioritized in the order their requests are received.
“NRCS is committed to helping Florida agriculture with every means available to repair damages to their land caused by Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton,” said Juan C. Hernandez, NRCS state conservationist for Florida.
Producers can apply for assistance to implement conservation practices, including nutrient management, mulching, tree establishment, and emergency animal mortality management. The NRCS is also offering early start waivers, allowing some conservation practices to begin before contracts are finalized.
Counties eligible for disaster assistance include: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Brevard, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Desoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, , Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia and Wakulla.
A webinar to explain the program is scheduled for Oct. 30, 2024, from 10 a.m. to noon. Interested participants can join via ZoomGov.
For more information, growers can visit the USDA Service Center or learn more about the USDA’s ongoing hurricane recovery efforts.