Source: USDA Farm Service Agency
USDA Texas Farm Service Agency (FSA) Acting Executive Director, James B. Douglass announced that Texas was allocated an additional $6,414,000 of Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) funds. These funds are in addition to regular ECP funds previously issued across the state.
In Texas, 27 counties were approved for ECP assistance because they were designated as a primary disaster county under a Presidential Disaster Declaration issued for damages from 2011 wildfires. Below is the breakdown of ECP allocations by county.
| Anderson | $35,000 | Crockett | $800,000 | Nolan | $800,000 |
| Archer | $10,000 | Dickens | $40,000 | Palo Pinto | $150,000 |
| Bastrop | $425,000 | Foard | $150,000 | Pecos | $470,000 |
| Brewster | $600,000 | Haskell | $55,000 | Presidio | $55,000 |
| Caldwell | $285,000 | Houston | $35,000 | Stephens | $150,000 |
| Clay | $105,000 | Hutchinson | $25,000 | Stonewall | $280,000 |
| Coke | $530,000 | Jack | $120,000 | Throckmorton | $300,000 |
| Colorado | $200,000 | Leon | $45,000 | Trinity | $33,000 |
| Cottle | $210,000 | Mitchell | $30,000 | Waller | $55,000 |
The dollar amounts allocated by county are initial estimates only and could vary depending on the number of applications received per county. In addition, the entire state allocation has not been distributed; a reserve was withheld to allow flexibility in allocations.
ECP is administered by FSA and additional funds were allocated to assist producers with the cost of recovery activities required to restore the agricultural land to pre-disaster conditions. Producers who sustained damage from the 2011 wildfires are encouraged to submit their request for assistance prior to beginning reconstructive work. Submitting a request after completing qualified reconstructive work may result in forfeiture of program eligibility.
“I realize that there are extenuating circumstances that must be addressed for public and livestock safety and health reasons, but I strongly recommend at least calling our office before any reconstructive action is taken,” said Douglass.
FSA County Committees will complete an evaluation of submitted requests and obligate available funds based on an on-site inspection of the damaged land, taking into consideration the type and extent of the eligible damage. The use of funds obligated under ECP authority is limited to return the land to the relative pre-disaster condition. Conservation concerns that were present on the land prior to the disaster are not eligible for ECP assistance. Approved ECP applicants may receive up to 75 percent of the cost of completing the approved restoration activity.
For more information on ECP, please contact your local FSA office.
