The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida (NRCS-FL) has started accepting applications for disaster assistance funding through the Emergency Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), This is to provide technical and financial assistance to agricultural landowners and producers in recovering from damages caused by hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton.
Approximately $26 million will be made available for EQIP disaster assistance applicants to address resource concerns on their land. The sign-up period for this disaster assistance runs until December 20, 2024.
Florida NRCS State Conservationist, Juan C. Hernandez, explains the aspects of EQIP that can help those affected by the storms.
NRCS Florida will evaluate disaster assistance applications using the ACT NOW process. ACT NOW allows NRCS to pre-approve ranked application when the ranking score meets or exceeds an established threshold score. Applications will be batched and processed in the order received.
The Florida counties targeted for EQIP disaster assistance include: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Brevard, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Desoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, , Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, and Wakulla.
To learn more, contact NRCS at your local USDA Service Center.