NEWS

United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
9173 W. Barnes Dr., Suite C
Boise, Idaho 83709
 
For More Information:
Bob Bartholomew, 208-378-5703
Dastina Johnson, 208-685-6978


Sign-up deadline for wildfire assistance extended to august 22
Idaho landowners now have an additional week to sign up for $400,000 in federal funds for wildfire assistance

August 13, 2007, Boise, ID—Landowners with burned grazing lands resulting from recent wildfires have a new deadline of August 22 to apply for financial assistance through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Idaho.  NRCS is now providing $400,000--a $50,000 increase- through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to help ranchers continue to manage their operation and maintain the health of their livestock through incentive payments.

“In light of new wildfire outbreaks that have scorched thousands of Idaho’s private acres, we have extended the sign-up deadline to allow more affected landowners the opportunity to participate in our special initiative,” said NRCS State Conservationist Richard Sims. 

The new sign-up window gives more ranchers additional time to apply immediately for available funds.  NRCS is offering a one-time $11 per acre incentive payment to allow burned areas to be restored naturally by requiring that livestock be deferred from grazing from the fire’s start date through October 1, 2008.

Sims anticipates the need to have a second sign-up available this fall using fiscal year 2008 funds to provide the same opportunity to those who may suffer from current or new wildfires before the fire season ends. He stressed that producers interested in remaining eligible for future wildfire contracts must not graze the lands they wish to enroll.

Due to the critical need to obligate these funds by September 1, applicants who do not have a current USDA application on file and are not immediately eligible will be considered only for the 2008 program.  

In addition, NRCS has wildfire recovery publications available for Idaho homeowners and landowners.  The 20-page publication, “Wildfire Recovery Tips for Idaho” highlights steps that people can take to help reduce damage from wildfires and related flooding events.  In addition, it covers specifications for vegetation and structural practices that users can install to protect against residual wildfire damage.

For information on eligibility requirements for the special wildfire initiative, or to pick up copies of the wildfire recovery publication, contact your local USDA Service Center or visit www.id.nrcs.usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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