In order to expedite Hurricane Ian disaster recovery, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida has announced it is issuing early start waivers in Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) emergency declaration counties, to allow commencement of key conservation practices prior to conservation program contract approval.
Juan C. Hernandez, Florida NRCS State Conservationist, told Southeast AgNet they can provide payments, through conservation program contracts, for EQIP conservation practices to help agricultural landowners and producers address disaster related resource concerns on their land.
Twenty-seven Florida counties are identified for EQIP Assistance: Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Clay, Collier, Desoto, Flagler, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, and Volusia.
Agricultural producers and landowners interested in submitting an EQIP application, and who are unable to reach their local NRCS office, can contact the NRCS State Office at (352) 338-9500.
Plus, USDA has established a call center that is available to assist agricultural producers with Hurricane Ian recovery. For Florida producers located in counties where the USDA Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) local infrastructure has been impacted, the agency has established state-specific toll-free information lines where producers in need can receive immediate information regarding available FSA assistance.
If your local FSA office is closed, you can contact the FSA Call Center at 1-877-508-8364. The line is staffed Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.
USDA USDA EXPEDITES HURRICANE IAN DISASTER RECOVERY
(NRCS/GAINESVILLE, FL/October 7, 2022) — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) can provide payments, through conservation program contracts, for Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) conservation practices to help agricultural landowners and producers address disaster related resource concerns on their land. To expedite Hurricane Ian disaster recovery, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is issuing early start waivers in EQIP emergency declaration counties, to allow commencement of key conservation practices prior to conservation program contract approval, announced Juan C. Hernandez, NRCS State Conservationist.
Twenty-seven Florida counties are identified for EQIP Assistance: Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Clay, Collier, Desoto, Flagler, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, and Volusia.
Agricultural producers and landowners interested in submitting an EQIP application, and who are unable to reach their local NRCS office, can contact the NRCS State Office at (352) 338-9500 or email SM.NRCS.FL.DISASTERINFO@USDA.GOV to submit the following information:
- Location where assistance is requested (county, city, and major crossroads)
- Contact name and email address
- Phone number (state if mobile/cell; able to receive calls and/or text messages)
- Nature of need for assistance
“USDA remains committed to helping the people of Florida agriculture with every means at our disposal. We can assist local farmers in repairing damages to their land and existing conservation practices caused by Hurricane Ian.,” said Hernandez. “Through EQIP, we can help farmers repair and prevent soil erosion, as well as address water quality issues or other resource concerns resulting from high rainfall events and flooding.”
Additional EQIP assistance guidelines:
- An early start waiver is not a guarantee of conservation program payment.
- Waiver approval is contingent upon work not having been started on the conservation practice(s) before the date this waiver was approved.
- Producers are asked to file an EQIP application and a waiver before they start an EQIP conservation practice. Producers may submit application responses by email or phone.
- Conservation practices must meet NRCS standards and specifications for the producer or landowner to receive payment.
- EQIP conservation practices offered for financial assistance are listed below:
| Practice Code | Practice Name and Units | |
| 325 | High Tunnel System (sf) | |
| 326 | Clearing and Snagging (ac) | |
| 327 | Conservation Cover (ac) | |
| 340 | Cover Crop (ac) | |
| 342 | Critical Area Planting (ac) | |
| 368 | Emergency Animal Mortality Management (amu) | |
| 382 | Fence (ft) | |
| 384 | Woody Residue Treatment (ac) | |
| 484 | Mulching (ac) | |
| 500 | Obstruction Removal (no) | |
| 595 | Pest Management Conservation System (ac) |