Emergency Conservation Program and Emergency Forest Restoration Program Signup Deadline Has Been Extended to 19 Louisiana Parishes

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Louisiana has extended the signup deadline for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) to address damages that affected several parishes in Louisiana as a result of Hurricane Ida that made landfall in August 2021. The prior deadline date was Feb. 14, and the deadline is now May 16, 2022.

Eligible landowners who have not preciously participated in USDA programs should contact their FSA county office as soon as possible to establish customer records. Additionally, due to COVID-19, FSA offices are not currently open to ‘walk in’ customers; therefore, it is necessary and the local USDA Service Center to make an appointment.

The deadline for ECP has been extended for the following parishes: Assumption, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, and Washington. 

ECP provides cost-share assistance to restore damaged farmland to pre-disaster conditions. Producers may receive up to 75% of the cost of approved restoration activity. Limited resource, socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers and ranchers may receive up to 90% cost-share assistance.

The EFRP deadline extension is only for Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington. 

EFRP provides owners of non-industrial private forests restore forest health damaged by natural disasters cost-share assistance up to 75% of the cost to implement approved restoration practices; and limited to $500,000 per person or legal entity per disaster.

In most cases, producers must apply for assistance prior to beginning reconstructive work. FSA’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and environmental compliance review process must be completed before any restorative actions are taken. Applications submitted after reconstructive work has started or completed may not be approved for ECP or EFRP assistance. Conservation concerns that were present on the land prior to the natural disaster event are not eligible for ECP or EFRP assistance.

FSA County Committees will evaluate applications based on information provided and if applicable, conduct an on-site inspection of the damaged land, taking into consideration the type and extent of the damage. Submitting an application does not guarantee that cost-share funding will be approved. 

For more information on disaster recovery, visit farmers.gov/recover, or contact your local USDA Service Center. To locate your local FSA office, visit farmers.gov/service-center-locator.