USDA Assistance Available to Those Affected by Texas and Oklahoma Wildfires

USDA highlighted some of the programs and resources that are available to aid recovery efforts for farmers, ranchers, and residents affected by recent wildfires in the Texas panhandle and western Oklahoma. USDA has an emergency loan program that provides eligible farmers low-interest loans to help them recover from production and physical losses. Farm Service Agency programs for affected producers include the Livestock Indemnity Program; the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program; the Livestock Forage Disaster Program; and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. USDA has also expanded authorization of emergency haying and grazing of Conservation Reserve Program acres to support the relocation of livestock for grazing purposes. Additionally, in Texas, USDA is opening a special sign-up for $6 million in EQIP funding for eligible practices related to wildfire recovery, including emergency animal mortality management and prescribed grazing.