Page 14 - November 2020 WCA Ketch Pen

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Letter from the FSA State Executive Director
By: Jon Wyss, WA State Executive Director os the USDA’s Farm Service Agency
Ongoing drought conditions have been present throughout much of the central portion of Washington State since April of this past year. These abnormally dry weather conditions in conjunction with the high wind event that occurred over Labor Day weekend led to one of the worst fire seasons Washington State has seen. To date, approximately 740 thousand acres of land have been consumed by wildfire for the 2020 season.
Livestock producers within the agriculture community have been some of those hit the hardest. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) has received reports of thousands of miles fencing that are in desperate need of repair, in addition
to the grazing and physical losses that have occurred to livestock. Due to the severe nature of these losses, FSA has disaster assistance availability within many counties at this time.
FSA’s Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) can provide cost share assistance to producers to repair and replace livestock fencing that has been damaged and/or destroyed as a result of the wildfires. Assistance may also be available for conservation structures or practices and can include things such as livestock water developments. Cost share payments are provided for the cost of restoration, up to 75 percent (up to 90 percent for producers that certify
as limited resource, socially-disadvantaged or beginning farmer/rancher) and payments are limited to $500,000
per person or legal entity per disaster. All ECP cost share payments cannot be combined with other Federal or State cost share programs. Advance payments may be provided for fencing restoration, up to 25 percent of the expected cost-share payment in effort to assist with the associated up- front costs as well.
Eligible land must be physically located within a
county that has been approved for ECP and utilized for livestock grazing as part of a commercial farming or ranching operation. Currently ECP has been authorized for implementation within Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan counties. Signups are only authorized for 30-60 days and signup periods may vary depending on location. Additional counties may be authorized to implement ECP if requested. As such, it is important that producers report all natural disaster damage to FSA as damage reports can determine some program implementation, such as ECP.
All producers who
wish to apply for cost
share benefits under
ECP should not take
action on the repairs or
replacement of fencing
until FSA has had a
chance to evaluate
the application and
complete any necessary
environmental reviews
as required under the
National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA).
While FSA has made
efforts to streamline the required environmental reviews by establishing a Programmatic FSA-850 (Environmental Screening Worksheet) for fencing repair or replacement needed as a result of the wildfires, FSA must still ensure that the scope of the producers actions fall within
the parameters of the actions authorized under the programmatic review. Any actions that fall outside of the scope of the nationally completed review will require an individual evaluation to ensure that the actions being taken will not result in impacts to environmental resources. If actions are taken prior to FSA’s evaluation of the project, it may result in disapproval of the application.
While ECP will provide assistance to producers for damage sustained to livestock fencing and/or conservation structures, benefits may also be available for grazing and/or livestock losses through other FSA administered programs as well. Producers who suffer grazing losses may apply for assistance under the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) or the Livestock Forage Program (LFP), and all livestock losses can be applied for under the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP). Notice of Loss requirements may apply to these programs. All producers that are interested in participating in these programs are highly encouraged to contact their local FSA Office. Additional information may also be obtained on FSA’s website at https://www.farmers.gov/ recover.
Ketch Pen www.washingtoncattlemen.org
Jon Wyss
November 2020