05/29/2026
USDA Approves Emergency Conservation Assistance for Clay and Jack Counties
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Clay and Jack Counties is accepting applications for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) to address damages from tornadoes that occurred during April. ECP provides cost-share and technical assistance to producers to restore farmland to pre-disaster conditions following a qualifying natural disaster. ECP signup begins on June 1, 2026, and ends on June 30, 2026. Approved ECP applicants can receive up to 75% of the cost of the approved restoration activity.
Approved ECP practices include:
Removing debris from farmland
Replacing or repairing permanent livestock fence
Check with FSA before beginning work to ensure required compliance measures are complete to be eligible for cost-share payment.
Conservation concerns present on the land prior to the qualifying natural disaster event are not eligible for ECP assistance.
Eligibility and Environmental Requirements
Producers with damage from qualifying natural disaster events must apply for ECP assistance before beginning reconstructive work. FSA’s environmental compliance review process is required to be completed before any actions are taken. A waiver can be requested for necessary activities that are taken as emergency action to prevent further loss. Producers who apply after reconstructive work has been completed are at risk of not qualifying for ECP.
FSA county committees will evaluate applications based on an on-site inspection of the damaged land, taking into consideration the type and extent of the damage. An on-site inspection does not guarantee that cost-share funding will be provided.
More Information
To learn more about ECP, producers can contact the Clay/Jack County FSA Office at 940-538-4591 or visit farmers.gov/protection-recovery.