By Blake Jackson
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) in New York has extended the application deadline for two essential hurricane recovery programs to August 4, 2025.
These programs the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) are designed to assist agricultural and forest landowners in restoring land impacted by natural disasters, including Hurricane Debby.
“We recognize the level of devastation that Hurricane Debby caused across New York and understand that the recovery and restoration process takes time,” said Clark Putnam, State Executive Director for FSA in New York. “We’ve extended the deadline to give producers in Steuben, St. Lawrence and Franklin counties additional time to complete applications and finalize clean up and restoration efforts.”
Emergency Conservation Program (ECP)
ECP offers cost-share and technical support to help restore farmland to its pre-disaster condition. Eligible practices include debris removal, grading and releveling, fence repair, erosion control, and shelterbelt restoration.
Approved participants can receive up to 75% of restoration costs, with a cap of $500,000 per disaster event. An advance payment of up to 25% of total allowable costs may be issued, which must be used within 60 days. Producers leasing federally or state-managed lands, including tribal trust land, may also qualify.
Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP)
EFRP assists landowners in rehabilitating damaged nonindustrial private forestland. Qualifying activities include tree and debris removal, replanting, erosion control, fencing, and wildlife habitat enhancement.
Participants may be reimbursed up to 75% of the lower of actual or allowable costs after restoration is complete, up to a $500,000 maximum per disaster.
Applicants must follow USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service standards or equivalent state forestry guidelines and maintain thorough cost documentation, including personal labor.
Eligible forestland must have had tree cover before the disaster and be suitable for tree growth, with ownership or lease by a private individual or group.
To speed up recovery, the FSA has waived site inspections for certain non-engineering ECP practices and all EFRP activities related to debris and hazard tree removal, fence repair, and similar non-ground-disturbing work.
For more information or to apply, producers should contact their local FSA office.
Photo Credit: usda-farm-service-agency
Categories: New York, Government & Policy, Weather