USDA Approves Emergency Forest Restoration Funds due to Ice, July 28

ODF release – SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) is now accepting applications for grants to assist non-industrial forest landowners who suffered damage in the 2021 ice storm in Yamhill, Clackamas, Multnomah, Marion, Polk, Washington, Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook counties. The grants come from the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP). EFRP provides payments to eligible owners of nonindustrial private forestland to enable the owners to carry out emergency measures to restore land damaged by a natural disaster. It is important that producers apply for EFRP assistance promptly because program funds will be allocated based on the number of applications received as well as by on-site inspections to determine the extent of damage. FSA encourages eligible landowners who haven’t participated in FSA programs to contact the local county FSA office as soon as possible because FSA records will have to be created for these individuals. After applications are received, local FSA County Committees will determine land eligibility using on-site damage inspections that assess the type and extent of damage and approve applications. Eligible forest restoration practices include debris removal (such as down or damaged trees) in order to establish a new stand or provide natural regeneration; site preparation, planting materials and labor to replant forest land; restoration of forestland roads, fire lanes, fuel breaks or erosion control structures; fencing, tree shelters and tree tubes to protect trees from wildlife damage; and wildlife enhancement to provide cover openings and wildlife habitat. To meet eligibility requirements, non-industrial private forestland must have existing tree cover or had tree cover immediately before the natural disaster occurred, and be able to grow and sustain trees. The land must also be owned by any nonindustrial private individual, group, association, corporation or other private legal entity that has definitive decision-making authority over the land. The natural disaster must have resulted in damage that – if untreated – would impair or endanger the natural resources on the land and/or materially affect future use of the land. For more information please contact your local county FSA office, or visit farmers.gov/recover.