FSA accepting applications for EFRP

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Executive Director, Olivia McCray, announced that Butler County is accepting applications for the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) to address damages from the 2024 Drought.

The EFRP sign-up period will be open from Sept. 30, 2024, through March 31, 2025

EFRP provides payments to eligible owners of nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) land to restore land damaged by a natural disaster.

Before an application for EFRP assistance is approved, an onsite inspection of the damages by FSA, in cooperation with a state forester, is required to verify the damages and enable an environmental review.

The approved EFRP practices under the authorization include:

EF1- Hardwood Forest Restoration

EF2 – Softwood Forest Restoration

EF3 – Mixed Forest Restoration

EF4 – Longleaf Pine Restoration

“FSA remains committed to helping landowners impacted by this disaster,” said Clifton Warren, State Executive Director in Alabama. “I encourage eligible landowners to contact the FSA county office as soon as possible to make an appointment to apply.”

To meet eligibility requirements, NIPF land must have existing tree cover or had tree cover immediately before Hurricane Michael occurred and be sustainable for growing 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.

For more information on EFRP, please contact your local FSA county office or

visit https://www.farmers.gov/recover.

To find your local office, visit farmers.gov/service-center-locater.