Jefferson County FSA is Accepting Emergency Conservation Program Applications for Flood Damage

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director James L Giffin in Jefferson County today announced that Jefferson County is approved to accept applications for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) to address damages from flooding. ECP sign-up will begin on April 22, 2019 and end on May 24, 2019.

According to Giffin: “…approved ECP practices under this authorization include: removing debris, grading, shaping, releveling farmland, restoring permanent fences, as well as restoring the following conservation structures: dams, ponds, sod waterways, diversions, terrace systems, wells, springs, and ditches”.

ECP is administered by FSA to assist producers with the cost of recovery activities required to restore the agricultural land to pre-disaster conditions. Producers who sustained damage from this disaster event are encourages to submit their request for assistance prior to beginning reconstructive work. Submitting a request after completing qualified reconstructive work may result in forfeiture of program eligibly.

FSA county committees will complete an evaluation of submitted requests and obligate available funds based on an on-site inspection of the damaged land, taking into consideration the type and extent of the eligible damage. Completion of the on-site inspection does not guarantee that cost-share funding will be allocated.

The use of obligated funds is limited to return the land to the relative pre-disaster condition. Conservation concerns that were present on the land prior to the disaster are not eligible for ECP assistance. Approved ECP applicants may receive up to 75 percent of the cost of completing the approved restoration activity.

Cost-share level up to 90 percent of eligible cost is authorized for limited resource producers.

According to Giffin: “Cost-share for grass killed by standing water, buildings, farm equipment, farm roads, farm bridges, damage to creek and river channels, and stream crossings are not eligible for ECP cost-share”.

For more information on ECP, please visit or contact the Jefferson County FSA office at: (865) 397-3151 or 321 Hwy 92 South Dandridge, TN 37725.