The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds farmers and ranchers affected by sever weather that USDA has several programs which provide assistance before, during and after disasters. USDA staff in regional, State and county offices are ready to help.
The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) administers many safety-net programs to help producers recover from eligible losses, including the Livestock Indemnity Program, theEmergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program, Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) and the Tree Assistance Program. The FSA Emergency Conservation Program provides funding and technical assistance for farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters.
Producers located in counties that received a primary or contiguous disaster designation may be eligible for low-interest emergency loans to help them recover from production and physical losses.
Compensation also is available to producers who purchased coverage through theNoninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, which protects non-insurable crops against natural disasters that result in lower yields, crop losses or prevented planting.
USDA encourages farmers and ranchers to contact their local FSA office to learn what documents can help the local office expedite assistance, such as farm records, receipts and pictures of damages or losses.
Producers with coverage through the RMA administered federal crop insurance program should contact their crop insurance agent. Those who purchased crop insurance may be compensated for covered losses. Producers should report crop damage within 72 hours of damage discovery and follow up in writing within 15 days.
For complete details and eligibility requirements regarding USDA’s disaster assistance programs, contact a localUSDA Service Center (http://offices.sc.egov.usda.
In a continuing effort to better serve the public, USDA has developed a new and improved central resource for disaster related materials. In partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other disaster-focused organizations, USDA created a Disaster Resource Center(http://www.usda.gov/wps/
The new Disaster Resource Center website and web tool now provide an easy access point to find USDA disaster information and assistance.
For more information or to report damage and request a farm visit, contact the Oneida County FSA office at (315) 736-3316, ext. 2, or the Madison County FSA office at(315) 824-9076.