North Carolina farmers and ranchers who suffered damage to working lands and livestock mortality because of Hurricane Florence are encouraged to sign up for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

A special sign up for agricultural livestock mortality and carcass disposal is now available.  The first sign up ends September 24, 2018; and a second will end on October 12, 2018.

NRCS recommends producers seeking assistance for a mass mortality event immediately notify the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA & CS) Veterinary Division or Emergency Services before filing an EQIP application that meets state requirements. A mass mortality event is defined by the NDCA & CS Veterinary Division as greater than 20 percent facility mortality.

NRCS will not be able to approve EQIP contracts until producers first notify the NCDA Veterinary Division. Notifications must be documented by NRCS during the planning/contract development process. 

Farmers and ranchers seeking NRCS financial and technical assistance can sign up at their local NRCS office. Conservation practices also available through EQIP can address flood and wind damage, excessive runoff that is causing hurricane-related natural resource concerns and provide protection from exceptional storm events in the future.   

Disaster management resources pertaining to agriculture, including mass mortality composting guidance are available at http://www.ncagr.gov/disaster/     .

For information from NCDA, call:

Ag Weather Emergency Hotline: 1-866-645-9403.

Veterinary Division Office: 919-707-3250.

Emergency Programs Division: 919-807-4300. 

Editor Note:  Natural disasters can be overwhelming.  It’s important to remember that help is available at every level of government from local volunteer groups to Federal Recovery Grants.  The most important part is documentation.  Take pictures of everything from different angles to clearly document damage.  You don’t have to take pro photos, just a clear pic.  As uncomfortable as it is, it is necessary.  If you have livestock that didn’t make it, you have to get on the phone with the Veterinary Division.  There may be special rules for disposal.

For more information from NRCS, contact your local USDA Service Center; Stuart Lee, State Public Affairs and Outreach Officer at 919-873-2107 or visit the North Carolina NRCS website at www.nc.nrcs.usda.gov. For more information on disaster assistance programs for farmers and ranchers visit farmers.gov/recover     .