The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida has established a special Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) sign-up Nov. 28 – Dec. 28 to help agricultural producers who suffered damage from Hurricane Irma with financial and technical assistance.
Conservation practices available through this EQIP funding specifically address natural resource concerns from hurricane flood and wind damage and provide future protection from exceptional storm events.
Declared disaster counties that are eligible under this sign up include: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Union, Volusia.
Farmers and ranchers seeking NRCS financial and technical assistance can sign up for EQIP at their local NRCS field office.