Producers in southcentral Washington impacted by a wildfire Labor Day weekend near Kahlotus may receive financial assistance from the FSA. The department is implementing the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) due to damage caused by this wildfire to livestock fence and livestock water troughs. The Monday September 7th fire was exacerbated by high winds and burned a large portion of Washington’s Franklin County.

Cost-share funds are available to restore and replace livestock fence. The program provides 75% of the cost to implement the practice and 90% for producers that meet eligibility under socially disadvantaged, military veteran farmer/rancher, beginning farmer/rancher and/or limited resource, status. Conservation (fencing) problems existing prior to the applicable disaster are ineligible for ECP assistance. ECP benefits are intended for situations where the problem is so significant that Federal assistance is required to complete the practice.

“The Franklin County Committee’s request for the ECP program is under a preliminary approval, funding still pending. Having said that, national will likely approve funds once the enrollment period is over and total funding needs can be determined. Therefore, producers affected in the fire need to pay attention to the deadline and get their applications submitted as soon as possible”, sais the USDA’s Bruce Clatterbuck.

Application will be accepted between Thursday, April 1, 2021 and Friday, April 30, 2021.

Under the current COVID19 operating protocol, producers are not authorized entrance into the Pasco USDA Service Center, therefore, interested applicants should contact Bruce Clatterbuck at the office by phone and/or email to arrange a phone-call and/or Microsoft Teams appointment. Contact Bruce at 509-416-5703 or email at bruce.clatterbuck@usda.gov .

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