Wildfires have caused severe damage throughout Sonoma County.

Farms and ranches suffering severe damage may be eligible for assistance under the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) administered by the Sonoma County Farm Service Agency (FSA).

For land to be eligible, the natural disaster must create new conservation problems that, if untreated, would:  

• be so costly to rehabilitate that Federal Assistance is or will be needed to return the land to productive agricultural use
• is unusual and is not the type that would recur frequently in the same area
• affect the productive capacity of the farmland
• impair or endanger the land

A producer qualifying for ECP assistance may receive cost-share levels not to exceed 75 percent of the eligible cost of restoration measures.  No producer is eligible for more than $200,000.00 cost sharing per natural disaster occurrence.  The following types of measures may be eligible.

• removing debris from farmland. (EC-1
• restoring permanent fences (EC-3)
• restoring conservation structures and other similar installations (EC-4)

Producers who have suffered a loss from a natural disaster may contact the local FSA County Office and the request assistance from December 18 to February 2, 2018. 

To be eligible for assistance, practices must not be started until all of the following are met:

• an application for cost-share assistance has been filed
• the local FSA County Committee (COC) or its representative has conducted an onsite inspection of the damaged area
• the Agency responsible for technical assistance, such as Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), has made a needs determination.

Producers who have signed applications and waivers need not apply again, this sign up is for those who have not yet sought services. 

For more information about ECP, Please Contact the Sonoma County Office at 707-794-1242 or visit www.fsa.usda.gov/ca.