USDA Offers $63 Million for Farmers Hit by Hurricanes
Date: 06-Mar-06
Country: USA
The $63 million package is the first allocation from $200 million approved by Congress for the Emergency Conservation Program. USDA said eligible farmers may receive up to 100 percent cost-share funds for the removal of debris and restoration of fences and conservation structures.
The funds are only available to producers in counties that were declared disaster areas by presidential or secretarial order.
Hurricane Katrina slammed into Louisiana and Mississippi Aug. 29 with winds of up to 140 mph. It was followed one month later by Hurricane Rita, which battered Louisiana and Texas.
In January, USDA said it provided an additional $2.8 billion in hurricane assistance, increasing its aid to more than $4.5 billion through various conservation, watershed and nutrition help.
