Donny Green, County Executive Director of the DeKalb-Cannon County Farm Service Agency, announces due to
March 29, 2020 straight-line wind damages in portions of DeKalb and Cannon counties, the DeKalb-Cannon County Farm Service Agency has been authorized to implement a signup period for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP). “Although we have been authorized to accept applications for cost-share assistance, there is no guarantee funding will become available. However, if you would like to be considered for cost-share approval, you should immediately complete an application for ECP cost-share assistance in hopes of anticipated program funding,” says Green.
DeKalb and Cannon counties’ ECP signup period began April 15, 2020 and will continue through 4:30 p.m. on May 15, 2020. The minimum amount of damage to be eligible for assistance under this program is $1,000, unless you are a limited resource producer (adjusted household income for each of the last two filing years is less than $25,750 (DeKalb Co.) and $27,974 (Cannon Co.). Persons that qualify as limited resource producers only have to incur $250 damage to meet the loss threshold. The damage must be on agricultural land (cropland, hayland, or pastureland) and the damage must be directly associated with the straight-line wind event.
Eligible expenses for this program are:
- personal labor ($10) for fence repair/new installation, grading/shaping/leveling (where large trees are uprooted), and debris removal
- hired labor (based on invoice or canceled check) for fence repair/new installation, grading/shaping/leveling (where large trees are uprooted), and debris removal
- use of personal equipment (chainsaw, truck, tractor, heavy equipment) based on Tennessee’s established hourly rate for debris removal and grading/shaping/leveling (where large trees are uprooted)
- invoice for contracted equipment (heavy equipment) for debris removal and grading/shaping/leveling (where large trees are uprooted)
- invoice for purchased materials (fence repair/replacement)
- documented use of materials on hand (fence repair/replacement)
Whoever incurs the expense of repair/clean-up from damages directly related to straight-line winds is eligible for 75% cost-share under this program. Limited resource producers are eligible for 90% cost-share under this program. It is very important to keep a running and itemized record of all expenses, invoices, use of equipment, and personal labor. Before and after photographs are also suggested to support your application. If you use equipment, we will need information detailing what type and horsepower. There are different cost-share rates for different types/sizes of equipment.
Landowners or tenants who wish to apply for USDA cost-share assistance should immediately telephone the DeKalb-Cannon County Farm Service Agency office to initiate application. Green reminds all applicants that, although his office is accepting the requests, this does not imply that cost share assistance will be made available. If funds become available, the applications processed will receive funding if all eligibility requirements are met. Applications received after 4:30 p.m. on May 15, 2020 will not be approved.
Green reminds potential applicants that USDA Service Centers are not permitted to allow in-person visits during COVID-19 Level 2 status. As a result, all applications and customer transactions must be conducted by telephone, postal mail, or e-mail. Please call the DeKalb-Cannon County FSA office at 615-597-8225, Ext. 2 to initiate your application process. The office staff will mail you an ECP applicant packet with the information you will need.