Published: October 18, 2007 02:02 pm            

Severe drought announcement

October 17, 2007 — A lack of moisture, over an extended period of time, has caused producers in Carter, Boyd, Elliott, and Lawrence Counties to suffer from the effect of severe drought conditions. Farms experiencing severe drought conditions may be eligible for cost-share assistance under ECPD. This disaster program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency (FSA), which provides cost-share assistance if the damage is so sever that water available for livestock or orchards and vineyards has been reduced below normal to the extent that neither can survive without additional water.

A producer qualifying for ECP assistance may receive cost shares not to exceed 75 percent of the cost of installing eligible temporary measures. Cost sharing for permanent measures is based on 50 percent of the total eligible cost. Cost-share assistance is limited to $200,000 per person per natural disaster. Approved practices and measures may include:

• Installing pipelines or other facilities for livestock water or existing irrigation systems for orchards and vineyards,

• Constructing and deepening wells for livestock water, and

• Developing springs or seeps for livestock water.

Producers who have experienced severe drought conditions that will require outside assistance to provide supplemental emergency livestock water, may contact the local FSA County Office. Requests for assistance will be accepted at Carter, Boyd, Elliot, and Lawrence Counties FSA Office from Monday, October 15 to Friday, November 2.

To be eligible for cost shares, practices shall not be started until a request has first been filed at the FSA County Office and an onsite inspection of the problem area has been made by COC or its representative. COC will review the inspection findings when considering the request for cost shares.

Producers who have taken emergency action before this announcement may be eligible for assistance if a request for such assistance is filed within 15 calendar days of October 15, and it is determined that the action taken is eligible and sufficient to resolve the resource concern.

All producers, regardless of race, sex, religion, color, age, national origin, marital status, politics, or handicap shall have an opportunity to request cost sharing.

        

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