Fire-impacted farmers, ranchers to get funding

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is now accepting applications from agricultural producers statewide who were impacted by wildfires in 2014 or 2015. Financial assistance is offered through the Wildfire Initiative of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to help address resource concerns on private and tribal land. The deadline for applications is Friday, February 19, 2016.

NRCS will offer five financial assistance options:

Option one offers assistance with prescribed and deferred grazing on privately operated grazing land with recent grazing history that was burned by a wildfire in 2015.

Option two offers assistance with prescribed and deferred grazing on tribal grazing land with recent grazing history that was burned by a wildfire in 2015.

Option three offers assistance on structural practices on privately operated forest land that was burned by a wildfire in 2014 or 2015.

Option four offers assistance with structural practices on privately operated grazing land with recent grazing history that was burned by a wildfire during 2014 or 2015.

Option five offers assistance with structural practices on tribal grazing and forest land that was burned by a wildfire in 2014 or 2015.

“Washington farmers and ranchers have suffered substantial losses from wildfires. Financial assistance to help put conservation on the ground will ultimately improve producers’ long-term resilience to droughts, fires and floods,” said State Conservationist, Roylene Rides at the Door.

Funding is limited, and applications will be subject to a ranking system. In order to be eligible, it is important that interested parties visit their local Farm Service Agency office as soon as possible to ensure that their farm records are establish. For more information on how to apply for financial assistance, contact your local NRCS field office or visit the NRCS webpage at http://www.wa.nrcs.usda.gov.