USDA Offers $5 Million in Funding for Texas Farmers and Ranchers Affected by Flooding

Strategic Insights -

The US Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is providing $5 million in additional funding through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to farmers and ranchers in the Texas Hill Country who have been impacted by recent flooding. This special disaster sign-up aims to assist producers with replacing damaged infrastructure, management, and recovery of affected lands. Eligible applicants have until October 3, 2025, to submit their applications to the local USDA NRCS office.

Key Takeaways:

  • The NRCS is offering $5 million in additional funding through the EQIP program for farmers and ranchers in the Texas Hill Country who have been impacted by flooding.
  • Eligible producers must submit applications to the local USDA NRCS office by October 3, 2025, to be considered for this opportunity.
  • The affected counties include Bandera, Bexar, Burnet, Caldwell, Coke, Comal, Concho, Edwards, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hamilton, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Lampasas, Llano, Mason, Maverick, McCulloch, Menard, Real, Reeves, San Saba, Schleicher, Sutton, Tom Green, Travis, Uvalde, and Williamson.
  • The NRCS will use the ACT NOW process for this funding opportunity, allowing for immediate approval and obligation of ranked applications that meet or exceed a minimum ranking score of 25.
  • Eligible practices for the flooding disaster funding include:

+ Fence replacement

+ Watering facility installation

+ Livestock pipeline installation

+ Critical area planting

+ Cover crop planting

+ Grassed waterway installation

+ Range planting

+ Wildlife habitat planting

  • NRCS also administers the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program, which provides assistance for debris removal, streambank stabilization, and other hazards caused by natural disasters.
  • The EWP program allows for up to 75% of the construction cost of emergency measures to be provided by NRCS, with the remaining costs coming from local sources.
  • Eligible sponsors for the EWP program include cities, counties, towns, and federally recognized Native American tribes or organizations.

Statistics:

  • $5 million: The amount of additional funding being provided through the EQIP program for farmers and ranchers affected by flooding.
  • 25: The minimum ranking score required for applications to be approved through the ACT NOW process.
  • 60 days: The time frame within which eligible sponsors must submit a formal request to the state conservationist for assistance with the EWP program.
  • 75%: The percentage of the construction cost of emergency measures that may be provided by NRCS through the EWP program.
  • 11 counties: The number of counties in the Texas Hill Country affected by the recent flooding.

Sources:

  • USDA News Release: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is opening a special disaster sign-up for $5 million in additional funding through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for farmers and ranchers in the Texas Hill Country who have been impacted by recent flooding. (https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/)
  • NRCS Texas: The NRCS Texas will use the ACT NOW process for this funding opportunity. (https://www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov/)
  • NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program: NRCS administers the EWP program, which provides assistance to local government sponsors with the cost of addressing watershed impairments or hazards such as debris removal and streambank stabilization. (https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/)