USDA programs can help with derecho recovery

     Iowa agricultural operations have been significantly impacted by the Derecho, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover.

     As agricultural producers move into recovery mode and assess damages, they should contact their local USDA Service Center to report losses and learn more about program options available to assist in their recovery from crop, land, infrastructure and livestock losses and damages.

   “FSA has a variety of disaster assistance programs to support agricultural producers during times of adversity,” said Amanda De Jong, state executive director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Iowa.

     “Once you are able to evaluate impacts on your operation, it is important to contact your local FSA office to timely report all damages and losses and determine how we can assist.”

   USDA encourages farmers and livestock producers to contact the FSA county office at the local USDA Service Center to learn which documents should be provided to help the local office expedite assistance, such as farm records, receipts and pictures of damages or losses.

   Depending on the operation, FSA offers a number of disaster assistance programs to help offset eligible losses, including the Livestock Indemnity Program, Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program, Emergency Conservation Program, Emergency Forest Restoration Program, Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and Tree Assistance Program.

   Additionally, producers located in counties with a primary or contiguous disaster designation may be eligible for low-interest emergency loans to help them recover from production and physical losses.

   USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) also offers programs to help in the recovery process. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) can help producers plan and implement conservation practices on land impacted by natural disasters.

   “NRCS can be a very valuable partner to help landowners with their recovery efforts,” said Kristy Oates, acting state conservationist for the NRCS in Iowa. “Our staff will work one-on-one with landowners to make assessments of the damages and develop approaches that focus on protecting soil and water resources.”

   Producers with Federal crop insurance coverage should contact their crop insurance agent for assistance. Producers should report crop damage to their agent within 72 hours of damage discovery and follow up in writing within 15 days.

   “Crop insurance is there to help producers manage risk because we never know what nature has in store for the future,” said Duane Voy, director of RMA’s Regional Office that covers Iowa. “The Approved Insurance Providers, loss adjusters and agents are experienced and well-trained in handling these types of events.”

   Producers and landowners can use the online Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, answering five questions that will identify USDA programs that will help meet disaster recovery needs.

   For more information on all USDA disaster assistance programs, visit farmers.gov/recover or contact your local USDA Service Center, which can be found at farmers.gov/service-center-locator. For assistance with a crop insurance claim, please contact your crop insurance agent.