Relief Programs for Agriculture Damages
Document everything!
Hurricane Matthew has left a trail of devastation throughout Sampson County and many farmers, ranchers, and producers have felt the effects. There are several programs offered by the US Farm Service Agency that may help in times of need. The most important thing that you can do if you have been affected is to document everything. Take pictures, record notes, document time worked on equipment, and man hours – If any activity is not documented, it didn’t happen, so document everything.
Livestock Indemnity Program
This program is a standing program embedded in the Farm Bill. If you have livestock mortality over normal averages that was caused by natural events then you are eligible. You should document damages by taking pictures, notes, testimonies of workers, service personnel, and others that witnessed the loss. Keep up with receipts, time, labor, and machine hours spent on clean up efforts.
Tree Assistance Program
TAP
If you own a fruit tree orchard, or pecan orchard, TAP can help you recover costs for loss of fruit or nut crop trees. Again, you should document damages by taking pictures, notes, testimonies of workers, and others that witnessed the loss. Keep up with receipts, time, labor and machine hours spent on clean-up efforts.
Emergency Reforestation Program
For timber growers
The emergency reforestation program is for growers of pine stands (loblolly and longleaf) or hardwood timber that has experienced loss. Again, you should document damages by taking pictures, notes, testimonies of workers, and others that witnessed the loss. Keep up with receipts, time, labor and machine hours spent on clean-up efforts.
Emergency Assistance for Bee Keepers
ELAP
Eligible honeybees include bees housed in a managed hive and used for honey production, pollination or honeybee breeding. Eligible honeybees do not include wild, feral honeybees, leaf cutter bees or other bee species that are not used for producing honey, pollinating or breeding honeybees. Losses of colonies must be in excess of normal mortality. ELAP covers damage to hives and feed that was purchased or produced, including additional feed purchased above normal quantities to sustain honeybees until such time that additional feed becomes available.
Emergency Conservation Program
ECP
ECP funding has been requested through the Farm Service Agency. It has not been approved as of today. If approved, ECP will offer 4 tiers of assistance for agriculture related damages.
EC 1 offers assistance for trees down in fields
EC 2 offers assistance for erosion in fields
EC 3 offers assistance for fencing issues
EC 4 offers assistance for structural pond dam repairs
Again, this has not yet been approved, but submitted for approval. You should document damages by taking pictures, notes, testimonies of workers, and others that witnessed the loss. Keep up with receipts, time, labor and machine hours spent on clean up efforts.
Contacting the US Farm Service Agency
FSA
To contact the Sampson County FSA office you can call (910) 592-4791. The office is located at 80 County Complex Road, Clinton, N. C.