By: Joanna Pope, Public Affairs Officer/State Earth Team Volunteer Coordinator
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has funding available to assist agricultural producers whose lands were impacted by the wildfires that occurred in the Nebraska Panhandle starting Aug. 1, 2021, and that may occur up until Jan. 14, 2022. Impacted landowners have until Jan. 14 to apply for this funding.
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) can help producers plan and implement conservation practices on farms, ranches, and working forests impacted by natural disasters. Practices include grazing deferment on burned pasture and rangeland, critical area planting and mulching to help cover and protect the soil from erosion, as well as installing interior fencing and watering facilities to replace what has been destroyed.
“Numerous Fires have impacted farmers and ranchers in the Nebraska Panhandle over the past five months,” said Stacy Riley, acting state conservationist for NRCS. “NRCS believes postponing grazing is the best treatment for grazing lands damaged by wildfire.”
“NRCS can help with recovery efforts,” said Riley. “Our staff works one-on-one with landowners to assess the damage and develop approaches that lead to an effective recovery of the land.”
The application signup for this wildfire assistance begins immediately and will run through Jan. 14, 2022. Applications will be assessed, and even though some lands may be eligible for assistance, it is not guaranteed that all acres will receive financial assistance due to limited funding.
Interested landowners and operators should contact their local NRCS office in the USDA Service Center for applications and assistance.