FSA offers drought assistance

A serious lack of moisture that extended over the summer season has caused producers in Marion County to suffer from the effects of exceptional drought conditions. Farms and ranches experiencing these conditions may be eligible for cost-share financial assistance under U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Conservation Program — Drought Measures provision. This special disaster support program is administered by the Farm Service Agency and will provide benefit payments if damages are so severe that water available for livestock, orchards, or vineyards has been reduced below normal to the extent that neither can survive without additional water.

Producers may file an application from Monday through Nov. 15 at their local the USDA Farm Service Agency office at 301 Eisenhower Drive, Marion. Damages incurred by producers must be of such a magnitude that it would be too costly to rehabilitate without federal assistance.

Participants can receive cost sharing of up to 75 percent of the cost for temporary measures and 50 percent of the cost for permanent measures for approved emergency conservation practices. Practices approved are permanent drought measures — constructing and deepening wells, developing seeps and springs, and installing pipe to another source of water because primary source is inadequate — and temporary hauling water for livestock — transporting water to grazing areas and utilizing tanks and troughs.