ODA Accepting Disaster Assistance Program Applications

Applications for the Oregon Disaster Assistance Program are currently being accepted. Farmers and ranchers who experienced financial losses due to a natural disaster in 2021 can apply for ODAP, state-level assistance. Local banks and credit unions familiar with agriculture will administer ODAP throughout the state.

“Oregon’s farmers and ranchers are used to dealing with issues beyond their control,” said Alexis Taylor, Director, ODA. “But the series of natural disasters, where historic drought conditions were compounded by record-breaking heat, wildfire smoke, early winter storm damage, and pest infestation in 2021, was hard for any producer to absorb. Thank you to the leadership of Legislature and Governor for recognizing the immediate need and providing this funding to help producers stay in business and fill gaps left by other federal disaster programs.”

The maximum assistance is $125,000 or 90% of the three-year baseline. In addition, producers who meet the USDA definition of a historically underserved producer or have less than $350,000 in gross income may qualify for maximum assistance is $150,000 or 95% of the three-year baseline.

For a list of partners and a sample application, please visit the ODAP web page. Applications will be available until June 3, 2022.

In December 2021, the Oregon Legislature granted ODA the legal authority and $40 million to establish a disaster assistance program. ODA designed ODAP as a forgivable loan with stakeholders and industry partners.

The program calculates assistance for eligible farmers and ranchers in Oregon on the loss of Gross Farm Income. ODAP is based on tax filing from 2017, 2018, and 2019 to establish a 3-year baseline of what a producer could have expected in farm income without disaster impacts. Using the producer's 2021 Gross Farm Income, the difference between 2021 income and the 3-year baseline is considered a loss due to natural disasters.

Click Here to learn more about the ODAP program.

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekmedia.com