Assistance Available to DeKalb County Landowners with Wind Damage to Private Forestland

High winds caused severe damage in path of DeKalb County from the northwest to southeast portions. Nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners suffering severe damage may be eligible for assistance under the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) that is administered by the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency (FSA).
According to Donny Green, County Executive Director for the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency, in order to qualify, the damage must have been caused by this natural disaster and must have adversely impacted natural resources on NIPF land and, if untreated, would:
•Impair or endanger the natural resources on the land, and
•Materially affect the use of the land.
A producer qualifying for EFRP assistance may receive financial assistance not to exceed 75 percent of the eligible cost of restoration measures. The emergency measures must restore forest health and forest-related resources. The following types of measures may be eligible:
•Debris removal from NIPF;
•Site preparation on NIPF;
•Seedling establishment on NIPF, and
•Restoring conservation structures and other similar installations.
Producers who have suffered a loss from this disaster event may contact the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency and submit an application for assistance under the EFRP during the signup period, September 11, 2017 through October 11, 2017.
To be eligible for assistance, practices must not be started until all of the following are met (waivers may be granted on a case-by-case basis when justified):
•An application for financial assistance (FSA-848) has been filed;
•The local FSA County Committee, or its representative, has conducted an onsite inspection of the damaged area;
•The Agency responsible for technical assistance, such as the state forestry agency, has made a needs determination which may include specific corrective measure to restore forest health and forest-releated resources.
For more information, contact the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency at 615-597-8225, Ext. 2, or come by the office at 647 Bright Hill Rd., Smithville.