Federal, state agencies outline programs for producers amid wildfire recovery
Farmers and ranchers listen keenly Thursday during a wildfire recovery presentation by Nebraska Extension, USDA's Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Farmers listen to a presentation Thursday from Patrick Lechner, price support and conservation program chief for USDA, at the Brady Community Center.
Hilary Maracle, Nebraska executive director for the Farm Service Agency, speaks to farmers and ranchers Thursday at the Brady Community Center to discuss wildfire recovery.
Nebraska Extension, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service met farmers and ranchers Thursday at the Brady Community Center to discuss wildfire recovery.
Officials were there to help connect farmers and ranchers with the resources they need to recover from the wildfires, said Hilary Maracle, state executive director for the USDA Farm Service Agency.
“So, it's great teamwork and partnership efforts,” she said. “We just want to talk to our producers, and even more importantly, give them time to ask us questions, and we are listening so that we can better understand their needs.”
Maracle said after the wildfires, officials talked among themselves about how to help people and saw the need to talk to the producers directly.
“In terms of expectations from the farmers, it is that they are willing to tell their story and ask questions to help us make sure we understand what their needs are,” she said. “And the biggest thing I've seen is that they are taking care of each other, which is just amazing. The generosity of spirit, whether that's throughout Nebraska or even out throughout the country, of people making donations and helping neighbors.
"I have heard again and again when we talk about a program or donation, 'My neighbor needs it worse than I do,' and it's just wonderful to see that spirit in Nebraska.”
Maracle highlighted four programs available:
- Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP), which helps pay to transport cattle to other pastures.
- Emergency Conservation Program (ECP), which can help producers rebuild fences, infrastructure and some above-ground water structures for cattle.
- Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), which provides assistance for livestock loss.
- Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which assists in improving water quality, controlling soil erosion and enhancing wildlife habitat.
“I think for us, the biggest thing for USDA, being here today is to really help carry the message of farmers,” she said. “First, you know, we have an administration that absolutely believes in agriculture, that believes in our farmers. We know it's the heart and blood of Nebraska and what we do here, and we have had a great, great opportunity to share the Nebraska agriculture story with USDA about the national levels through this entire process. So even in challenges, there's always something positive to look at.”
Dr. Charlie Stoltenow, dean and director of Nebraska Extension, said the university is helping coordinate and bring together experts to help people recover.
Calling the fires devastating and disastrous, Stolenow said Nebraska Extension offered producers research and evidence-based information to make good decisions.
“As Nebraska Extension, we live with the people of Nebraska,” Stoltenow said. “We are local, county-based, and so we are here to support them.”
Stoltenow added that they were there to provide information and help ranchers and farmers connect with programs and assistance.
Mary Reece, assistant state conservationist at the Natural Resources Conservation Service, highlighted the Environmental Quality Incentive program.
Reece said the program will help producers determine how to rest the land.
“One of our common things is to do a partial season or a full season deferment, where they are removing their livestock,” Reece said. “We also are looking at, is there a place where they could grow other forages, annual forages, so they could get off the ground that has been burnt and have some place where they can take their cows."
Reece said it's important that those affected visit USDA offices to ask for assistance, and then USDA will go out with them on the land.
She added that the Environmental Quality Incentive program started March 25 and will run through the end of May.
“We also have early start waivers, so if producers come in and they know for sure that they're going to be looking for additional forage, or they are going to be looking for that chance to defer and give the grass a rest, or if they have erosion on their crop land and they need to put cover on it, we can give them a free start waiver to start before we finalize our obligations,” she said.
