Emergency Relief/Hurricane Loss Workshop

Financial and forestry consulting help is now available for forest landowners who suffered loss during last year’s hurricane season. The USDA Farm Service Agency has expanded the traditional Conservation Reserve Program to help landowners with damaged forests caused by Hurricanes Dennis, Katrina, Ophelia, Rita and Wilma. This is a 3 tier program. August 25th is the LAST day to sign up for the first tier. Tier 2 and 3 will depend upon availability of funds.

To find out how to qualify, attend

The Emergency Forestry Conservation Reserve Program
Date: Monday, August 14, 2006,
Time: 10:00 - noon
Location: County extension office*

* Be sure to contact your local MSU Extension Service to see if they are offering the program in your county. Most are, but you need to check. You can find your local MSU Extension Service contact information at msucares.com. You can also contact Susan Seals at MSU, 662-325-8581, susans@ext.msstate.edu.

Landowners from ALL counties in Mississippi with more than 35% timber loss will qualify for private forestry consultants to help develop recovery plans and estimate losses. Qualified landowners will also receive cost share assistance and either a lump sum payment or annual rental payments.

A coalition of forestry organizations including Mississippi Forestry Association worked diligently in Washington D.C. after the hurricanes of 2005 to pass legislation for the Emergency Forestry Conservation Reserve Program (EFCRP). Authorization for EFCRP comes from the Department of Defense, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and Pandemic Influenza Act, 2006.

Emergency Forestry Program Available to Those Who Suffered Loss During 2005 Hurricane Season

Steve Melton of USDA Farm Service Agency will be presenting the program. He is the head of the Forestry Department in the FSA and leads the EFCRP.

There will also be a reforestation program in Hattiesburg on August 25, 2005. Go to WildlifeMiss.org for detailed information.