The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Patrick County is accepting applications for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) to address damages from flooding that occurred Aug. 1 through Aug. 2, 2026. 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 Oct. 13, 2026, and ends on Dec. 14, 2026.
Approved ECP applicants can receive up to 75% of the cost of the approved restoration activity with a maximum cost share of $500,000 per natural disaster event.
Approved ECP practices include:
Removing debris from farmland
Grading, shaping and releveling
Replacing or repairing permanent fence
Restoring conservation structures
Emergency soil erosion measures
Field windbreak and farmstead shelterbelt restoration
Check with FSA before beginning work to ensure required compliance measures are complete to be eligible for cost share payment.
ECP cost-share assistance can provide advance payments for up to 25% of the total allowable cost for all ECP practices before the restoration is carried out. The advance payment must be spent within 60 days.
Producers who lease federally owned or managed lands, including tribal trust land, as well as state land, are eligible to participate in ECP.
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.
To learn more about ECP or to schedule an appointment to submit an application, producers can contact the Patrick County FSA Office at 276-694-3121 x.2 or visit farmers.gov/protection-recovery.
