USDA extends wildfire assistance deadline for Nebraska counties

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) has extended the application deadline for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) in several Nebraska counties affected by wildfires in March. The new deadline to apply for assistance is Monday, Oct. 26.

ECP provides technical assistance and cost-sharing to help producers restore farm and ranch land to pre-disaster conditions. Approved applicants can receive up to 75% of the allowable cost for restoration activities, with a maximum cost share of $500,000 per natural disaster.

The extension applies to counties impacted by the Morrill, Cottonwood, Road 203, Anderson Bridge, Ashby, and Minor fires, including Arthur, Garden, Grant, Keith, Morrill, Dawson, Lincoln, Blaine, Thomas, and Cherry counties.