County farmers, ranchers may be eligible for assistance

Severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding have caused excessive damage in Van Zandt County.

Farms and ranches suffering damage may be eligible for assistance under the Emergency Conservation Program administered by the Texas Farm Service Agency county office if the damage:

-          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

-          Will impair or endanger the land

A producer qualifying for ECP assistance may receive cost-share levels not to exceed

75 percent of the eligible cost of restoration measures. No producer is eligible for more than $200,000 cost sharing per natural disaster occurrence. The following types of measures may be eligible:

-          Removing debris from farmland

-          Grading, shaping, or releveling severely damaged farmland

-          Restoring permanent fences

-          Restoring conservation structures and other similar installations.

To read the full article, subscribe to the Canton Herald or pick up a copy from one of our vendors.