USDA Funding Available for Farmers Hit by Ice Storm
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The USDA Farm Service Agency has received an allocation of funding to provide monetary assistance to producers under the Emergency Conservation Program. The funds will be disbursed to assist in cleanup and restoration of areas affected by the ice storm in December 2008.Farmers in Berkshire County are encouraged to contact the Berkshire County FSA office to apply for cost-share assistance for fencing repair in livestock areas and debris cleanup in fruit orchards and maple sugar bushes.
The FSA State Committee has set up an initial signup deadline of Feb. 27 for this program; farmers are urged to get in touch with FSA right away.
There are some activities producers should be completing now such as documenting the losses and cleanup by taking pictures and keeping receipts and a record of time spent in cleanup. If producers have to hire in custom machine work, get written estimates and keep copies of bills for labor, e.g. ,operator and dozer cost per hour or two men and a chainsaw cost per hour, etc. If you are doing your own cleanup, record the man-hours spent even if it cleanup is already under way.
Producers should establish and/or update their eligibility for U.S. Department of Agriculture programs with FSA. All producer-eligibility documentation must be current prior to cost-share approval.
To sign up, farmers should visit the FSA office in Room 208, Federal Building, 78 Center St., to update or establish eligibility and delineate property. Producers will also fill out the application for the Emergency Conservation Program cost-share assistance. Bring available documentation including photos, receipts, invoices, etc.
The office is open weekdays from 8 to 4:30. It will be closed Feb. 10 for training and Feb. 16 for Presidents day. For more information, call 413-443-1776.
