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Natural resources

USDA Approves Emergency Conservation and Forest Restoration Assistance for Michigan Counties

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting applications for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) to address damages from tornadoes and high winds that occurred on March 30, 2025, in Michigan's Ingham, Jackson, and Calhoun counties. The programs provide cost-share and technical assistance to producers and landowners to restore farmland and non-industrial private forestland to pre-disaster conditions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The FSA is accepting applications for the ECP and EFRP programs until November 21, 2025, for damages caused by tornadoes and high winds on March 30, 2025.
  • ECP provides cost-share and technical assistance to restore farmland to pre-disaster conditions, with approved applicants receiving up to 75% of the cost, with a maximum cost share of $500,000 per natural disaster event.
  • EFRP provides financial cost-share and technical assistance to restore non-industrial private forestland damaged by a qualifying natural disaster, with approved applicants receiving up to 75% of the lesser of the actual costs incurred or allowable cost after completion.
  • Eligible applicants for EFRP must complete restoration to meet technical standards established through FSA and document and keep records of all costs incurred to complete the restoration activities.
  • The FSA has waived onsite inspections for non-engineering ECP practices and all EFRP forest types to expedite approvals of restoration work and has also waived the requirement for producers to obtain prior approval to conduct surface debris removal, fence repair, and hazard tree removal.

Statistics:

  • The FSA is accepting applications for the ECP and EFRP programs until November 21, 2025.
  • The maximum cost share for ECP is $500,000 per natural disaster event.
  • The maximum cost share for EFRP is $500,000 per natural disaster event.
  • The FSA has waived onsite inspections for non-engineering ECP practices and all EFRP forest types.
  • The FSA has waived the requirement for producers to obtain prior approval to conduct surface debris removal, fence repair, and hazard tree removal.

Sources:

  • U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency. (2025). USDA Approves Emergency Conservation and Emergency Forest Restoration Assistance for 3 Counties in Michigan.

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/news-events/news/07-21-2025/usda-approves-emergency-conservation-emergency-forest-restoration

  • FSA Website: fsa.usda.gov
  • USDA Disaster Assistance Information: farmers.gov
  • FarmRaise Online Education Hub: farmers.gov/protection-recovery

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