Program Descriptions
Program Number
10.054
Title
Emergency Conservation Program
Federal Agency
FARM SERVICE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Authorization
Agricultural Credit Act of 1978, Title IV, Public Law 95-334, 16 U.S.C. 2201- 2205, as amended.
Status
Active
Objectives
To enable farmers to perform emergency conservation measures to control wind erosion on farmlands, to rehabilitate farmlands damaged by wind erosion, floods, hurricanes, or other natural disasters and to carry out emergency water conservation or water enhancing measures during periods of severe drought.
Types of Assistance
Direct Payments for Specified Use.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Following a natural disaster, the county FSA committee determines, with concurrence from the State FSA committee, to make the program available in the county. Emergency cost- sharing is limited to new conservation problems created by natural disasters which, if not treated will impair or endanger the land, materially affect the productive capacity of the land, represent damage that is unusual in character and, except for wind erosion, is not the type that would recur frequently in the same area and will be so costly to rehabilitate that Federal assistance is or will be required to return the land to productive agricultural use. Eligible drought situations for water enhancing measures must be determined by the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, FSA.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Any agricultural producer who as owner, landlord, tenant, or sharecropper on a farm or ranch, including associated groups, and bears a part of the cost of an approved conservation practice in a disaster area, is eligible to apply for costshare conservation assistance. This program is also available in Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Any agricultural producer who as owner, landlord, tenant, or sharecropper on a farm or ranch, including associated groups, and bears a part of the cost of an approved conservation practice in a disaster area, is eligible to apply for costshare conservation assistance. This program is also available in Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
Credentials/Documentation
Identification as an eligible person and proof of contribution to the cost of performing the conservation practice. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
None. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102 and E.O.12372.
Application Procedure
Eligible persons may submit an application on Form AD-245, for cost-sharing, at the county FSA office for the county in which the affected land is located. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular Nos. A-102 and A-110.
Award Procedure
The county FSA committee reviews, prioritizes, and may approve applications in whole or in part. Approvals cannot exceed the county allocation of Federal funds for that purpose.
Deadlines
Applications for payment must be filed with the county FSA committee by a prescribed date. The conservation practice for which cost-shares have been approved must be completed during the program year, within the time specified by the county FSA committee, and such performance reported to the county office within a specified time.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
From 2 to 3 weeks.
Appeals
Participants may appeal to county FSA committee, State FSA committee, or National Appeals Division (NAD) on any determination. Matters that are generally applicable to all producers are not appealable.
Renewals
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Not applicable.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Practice cost-share approvals are given on a fiscal year basis. The approvals specify the time that the practice must be carried out. Payment is by check or electronic funds transfer following completion of the measure.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Not applicable.
Audits
Recipients are subject to audit by the Office of Inspector General, USDA.
Records
Maintained in the county FSA office and Federal record centers for a specified number of years.
Financial Information
Account Identification
12-3316-0-1-453.
Obligations
(Direct payments) FY 07 $0; FY 08 est not available; and FY 09 est not reported.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$50 to $64,000; $2,681.
Program Accomplishments
Not available.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Program regulations published in the Federal Register at 7 CFR, Part 701. Program is announced through the news media in the county area designated as a disaster area.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Farmers are advised to contact their local county FSA office after a natural disaster has occurred to determine whether the program is available in the county and to determine eligibility for emergency cost-share assistance. Consult the local telephone directory for location of the county FSA office. If no listing, get in touch with the appropriate State FSA office listed in the Farm Service Agency section of Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Headquarters Office
USDA/FSA/CEPD, Stop 0513, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-0513. Telephone: (202) 720-6221.
Web Site Address
http://www.fsa.usda.gov
Related Programs
10.404, Emergency Loans
Examples of Funded Projects
Not applicable.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Not applicable
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