Deadline Extended for USDA Disaster Recovery Programs

Jun 18, 2025
By Farms.com

Farmers and Forestland Owners in Tennessee Get More Time for Disaster Aid Applications

The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Tennessee has extended the deadline for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) to August 4, 2025, providing more time for producers to apply for hurricane recovery assistance following Hurricane Helene's devastation.

The ECP provides financial and technical assistance to restore damaged farmland. Eligible practices include debris removal, regrading fields, restoring fences, and implementing emergency soil erosion control. Producers can receive up to 75% cost-share, with a maximum of $500,000 per natural disaster event.

Mike Mayfield, FSA State Executive Director in Tennessee, emphasized, “We recognize the level of devastation that Hurricane Helene caused across Tennessee and understand that the recovery and restoration process takes time.” The extended deadline is designed to give producers additional time to apply for assistance and complete necessary restoration work.

The EFRP assists with restoring nonindustrial private forestland. Approved practices include removing debris, site preparation, and planting, among others.

Like the ECP, cost-share is available for up to 75% of the costs, with a maximum of $500,000 per event.

To expedite recovery, FSA has waived the requirement for onsite inspections for certain activities like debris removal and fence repair.

Producers are encouraged to contact their local USDA Service Center for more details on eligibility, activities, and how to apply.

For further information, visit farmers.gov/protection-recovery or contact your local USDA office.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.