Financial Assistance Opportunity for Florida Ag Landowners affected by Hurricane Ian

Dan Agri-Business, Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Florida, Funding, USDA-NRCS

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Air and Marine Operations air crews respond to affected areas along Florida’s coast after Hurricane Ian made landfall, September 30, 2022. Crews are ready with hoist-capable aircraft to assist anyone in need of emergency extraction.
Photo by Ozzy, U. S. Customs and Border Protection/Wikipedia Trevino
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The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida wants agricultural landowners and producers in the state affected by damages caused by Hurricane Ian to know they can apply for emergency assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP).

“Hurricane Ian caused an enormous amount of catastrophic damage to the state, and we are continuing to assess damages,” said Juan C. Hernandez, Florida State Conservationist.

NRCS can provide payments, through conservation program contracts, for EQIP conservation practices that address disaster related resource concerns on agricultural land. Interested landowners should apply by November 15, 2022.

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NRCS is issuing EQIP early start waivers in emergency declaration counties, to allow commencement of key conservation practices prior to conservation program contract approval.

The 28 Florida counties identified for EQIP emergency assistance are:Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Clay, Collier, Desoto, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, and Volusia.

Interested agricultural producers and landowners can contact the NRCS State Office at 352-338-9500 or email SM.NRCS.FL.DISASTERINFO@USDA.GOV to submit information to begin the EQIP application process.