Financial Assistance Available for Wildfire-Impacted Farmers and Ranchers

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is accepting applications for financial assistance from agricultural producers in New Mexico impacted by wildfires of 2011, 2012 and 2013 under the new Burned Lands Initiative.

The financial assistance will help address resource concerns on private land through NRCS’ Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP).

Applications will be accepted through Friday, July 19, 2013 for producers impacted by wildfires such as the Jaroso Fire, Las Conchas Fire, Little Bear Fire, Silver Fire, Thompson Ridge Fire, Track Fire, Tres Lagunas Fire, Wallow Fire and Whitewater-Baldy Complex Fire.

“New Mexico’s farmers and ranchers have suffered substantial losses from wildfires over the past few years.” NRCS State Conservationist Xavier Montoya said. “Our hope is that if we can restore parts of their operations and put conservation on the land, we can ultimately improve producers’ long-term resilience to droughts, fires and floods.”

Key conservation practices available for assistance under the Burned Lands Initiative include fencing, troughs and tanks, pipelines, diversions, critical area planting, wildlife management, ponds, forest stand improvement and others that relate to water quality, soil erosion, plant health and wildlife habitat concerns.

For more information on how to apply for financial assistance, contact your local NRCS field office (http://go.usa.gov/jczJ) or visit the NRCS EQIP (http://go.usa.gov/jcuY) or WHIP (http://go.usa.gov/jcuB) pages for more details.

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