Agricultural Resources
Assistance for Agriculture Businesses
Livestock Indemnity Program: The LIP provides benefits to livestock producers for livestock deaths more than normal mortality caused by adverse weather or by attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the Federal Government. LIP payments are equal to 75 percent of the average fair market value of the livestock. Please visit Livestock Indemnity Program for rules and fact sheets.
Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm Raised Fish Program (ELAP): This program assists with grazing losses due to hurricanes and flooding eligible on affected acres and assistance for purchased and produced feed losses due to hurricanes (hay bales, stacked hay, corn, silage, etc.). Feed purchases above normal due to hurricanes are eligible for ELAP assistance. ELAP is also available to assist with above normal costs to transport livestock to feed and/or transportation of feed/forage to livestock and above normal costs associated with water hauling. Please visit ELAP Information for eligibility and application procedures.
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP): The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), is a voluntary program that encourages agricultural producers and landowners to convert highly erodible and other environmentally sensitive acreage to vegetative cover, such as native grasses, trees, and riparian buffers. By enrolling in CRP, participants receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving vegetative covers. The program helps to improve water quality, control soil erosion, and enhance wildlife habitat, contributing to overall environmental health and sustainability. Agricultural producers and landowners with environmentally sensitive land that meets specific criteria related to cropping history and environmental characteristics are eligible. Applicants must demonstrate the potential for significant environmental benefits through the implementation of conservation practices. Please visit CRP for more information.
Environmental Quality Incentives Programs (EQIP): NRCS works one-on-one with producers to develop a conservation plan that outlines conservation practices and activities to help solve on-farm resource issues. Producers implement practices and activities in their conservation plan that can lead to cleaner water and air, healthier soil and better wildlife habitat, all while improving their agricultural operations. EQIP helps producers make conservation work for them. Financial assistance for practices may be available through EQIP. Some producers may also qualify for advance payment. For eligibility information please visit Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
Crop Assistance
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP): NAP provides financial assistance to producers of noninsurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory, or prevented planting occur due to natural disasters. For more information please visit Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program.
Farm Loans
Emergency Loan Program: Provides loans to help producers recover from production and physical losses due to drought, flooding, other natural disasters, or quarantine by animal quarantine laws or imposed by the Secretary under the Plant Protection Act. These loans can be used to restore or replace essential property, cover production costs, pay essential family living expenses, and refinance certain debts. The aim is to help producers recover swiftly and maintain the viability of their operations during and after disaster recovery. For more information and eligibility please visit Emergency Loan Program.
Farm and Forest Land Damage
Emergency Conservation Program (ECP): The Emergency Conservation Program (ECP), administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), offers financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to repair and restore farmland affected by natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, wildfires, drought, and other calamities. ECP helps farmers and ranchers implement emergency conservation measures to rehabilitate damaged land, restore agricultural production, and prevent further environmental degradation. For more information and eligibility please visit Emergency Conservation Program (ECP)
Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP): The Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) helps the owners of non-industrial private forests restore forest health damaged by natural disasters. The EFRP does this by authorizing payments to owners of private forests to restore disaster damaged forests. The local FSA County Committee implements EFRP for all disasters with the exceptions of drought and insect infestations. In the case of drought or an insect infestation, the national FSA office authorizes EFRP implementation. For more information and eligibility please visit Emergency Forest Restoration Program.
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is NRCS’ flagship conservation program that helps farmers, ranchers and forest landowners integrate conservation into working lands. EQIP provides technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers and forest landowners to address natural resource concerns, such as water and air quality, conserved ground and surface water, increased soil health, and reduced soil erosion. For more information and eligibility please visit Environmental Quality Incentives Program.