Assistance available for farms damaged by severe weather

Goodhue County farms and ranches suffering damage from severe weather in June may be eligible for assistance under the Emergency Conservation Program administered by the Goodhue Farm Service Agency county office if the damage meetings the following conditions:

• will be so costly to rehabilitate that federal assistance is or will be needed to return the land to productive agricultural use;

• is unusual and is not the type that would recur frequently in the same area;

• affects the productive capacity of the farmland;

• or will impair or endanger the land.

A producer qualifying for ECP assistance may receive cost-share levels of up to 75 percent of the eligible cost of restoration measures. The following measures may be eligible:

• removing debris from farmland;

• grading, shaping or re-leveling severely damaged farmland;

• restoring permanent fences;

• or restoring conservation structures and other similar installations.

Assistance may be requested from Oct. 22 to Dec. 22 by calling the local FSA county office at 651-923-5300.

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