Explore how ag operators can receive assistance from damage from Irma.
Hurricane Irma did a lot of damage to Florida agriculture, and few industries escaped damage. Damage occurred in many ways: to ripening or new crops, to soil beds, water sources, and infrastructure. Florida Ag Commissioner Adam Putnam maintains he is working to get relief for Florida farmers and ranchers from federal sources, but in the meantime Florida ag operators may be able to find assistance for ag land damaged by Hurricane Irma through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). See details below.
Assistance for Ag Operators for Damaged Ag Land
The NRCS is a division of the USDA, and they offer funding through programs that promote conservation practices. The specific program for assistance with Hurricane Irma damages is through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. A special sign-up period has been enacted from November 28th through December 28th to help Florida ag operators find relief.
The assistance includes technical and financial assistance for utilizing conservation practices that will address resource issues resulting from flooding and wind damage from hurricanes. There is also assistance to make changes that will provide future protections from what the NRCS labels “exceptional storm events.”
Ag Operators in those counties with disaster declarations are eligible to sign up. In alphabetical order, they are: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Union, and Volusia.
Those seeking assistance, or looking for more information, should contact their local NRCS field office.
Griffin Fertilizer is committed to helping both growers and ranchers make sound agronomic and economic decisions in order to maximize the health of their grove and pasture. As a full-service custom dry & liquid fertilizer blender and crop protection product distributor, we will continue our mission to further advance Florida agriculture. For questions or concerns about your farm or pasture, contact us and one of our team will be in touch.