When a flood, wildfire, hurricane or other natural disaster tears up your farm, the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) is the USDA program that helps put the land itself back: clearing debris, re-grading fields, rebuilding permanent fences and restoring water structures. It pays up to 75% of the allowable cost, and up to 90% for limited resource producers.
It is run by the Farm Service Agency, and it only opens after a disaster, county by county. Here is how it works and how to be ready.
What ECP pays for
FSA lists these covered practices:
- Removing debris left on farmland by a disaster
- Grading, shaping or re-leveling damaged land
- Restoring permanent fences
- Restoring water conservation structures
ECP also covers emergency water conservation measures during severe drought.
The damage has to be serious. FSA says it must “significantly impair the land’s agricultural productivity” or threaten land or water resources, at a cost high enough that federal help is needed to return the land to productive farm use.
How much it pays
- Up to 75% of the allowable cost of approved practices
- Up to 90% for limited resource producers
ECP money depends on what Congress provides, and FSA hands it out first-come, first-served while it lasts. FSA can also set priorities based on how severe the disaster and damage are. So applying early matters.
How sign-up works
ECP does not take applications year-round. After a disaster, FSA announces a sign-up period for the affected area, and your county FSA office takes requests for help during that window. FSA’s advice is to apply as soon as possible after the disaster.
When you apply, expect to provide:
- An assessment of the damage
- Documentation of the disaster’s impact
- A description of the restoration you plan to do
To find your office, see our guide to finding your local FSA office, or use FSA’s office locator at fsa.usda.gov/fsa-office-locator.
What to do right after the storm
- Photograph everything before you clean up: fence lines, debris, washed-out areas, damaged water structures.
- Call your county FSA office and ask whether an ECP sign-up has been announced, or is coming, for your county.
- Ask before you rebuild. Your office can tell you what documentation it needs and how timing affects your request. Do not assume work done before you talk to them will be covered.
- Ask about everything else too. One disaster can trigger several programs at once: livestock and forage payments, NAP crop coverage, Tree Assistance for orchards, and FSA emergency loans.
ECP for forest land: EFRP
If the disaster hit privately owned forest instead of farmland, FSA’s sister program, the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP), provides funding to restore privately owned forests damaged by natural disasters. Ask your county FSA office whether it is open in your area.
How ECP compares to EQIP
- ECP puts disaster-damaged land and fences back, after an announced sign-up, through FSA.
- EQIP pays for new conservation practices, like cross fencing for grazing, year-round through NRCS with state ranking dates. See our fencing cost-share guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Emergency Conservation Program? An FSA program that pays part of the cost to restore farmland damaged by natural disasters, including debris removal, re-grading, permanent fence repair and water structures, plus emergency water measures in severe drought.
How much does ECP pay? Up to 75% of the allowable cost of approved practices, and up to 90% for limited resource producers.
Does ECP pay to rebuild fences? Yes. Restoring permanent fences is one of the practices FSA lists.
When can I apply for ECP? During a sign-up FSA announces for your area after a disaster. Apply as soon as you can, because funding is first-come, first-served.
The bottom line
ECP is the program that puts the farm itself back together after a disaster. It only opens when FSA announces a sign-up for your county, so call your office right after the storm, photograph the damage and get your request in early.
Want to see every disaster program you might qualify for? Run our free eligibility checker or browse the deadline calendar.
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