The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida wants to remind agricultural producers in the state that a special Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) signup is underway to help producers who suffered damage from Hurricane Irma. This signup, which runs until December 28th, is to receive both financial and technical assistance for conservation practices designed to specifically address natural resource concerns from hurricane flood and wind damage and provide future protection from exceptional storm events.
There are 48 counties that were declared disaster counties that are eligible under this sign up. They 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. But again this special EQIP signup runs through December 28.