A lack of moisture, over an extended period of time, has caused producers in Tama County to suffer from the effects of severe drought conditions . Area farmers who experience a lack of moisture over an extended period of time, due to severe drought conditions should report this problem to the Tama County FSA Office. This reporting is is done by signing the required application, identifying the area on an aerial photograph and completing a fact sheet.

Sign up ends Oct. 26, 2012.

Producers with water shortages will need to sign the required forms and have the area inspected prior to starting any work, which may include technical assistance to determine what is needed to bring a water supply to the area. Producers not completing the required forms and who were not inspected prior to starting the work could be ineligible and cost share could be denied.

Farmers experiencing severe drought conditions may be eligible for cost-share assistance under the Emergency Conservation Program or ECP. This program provides cost-share assistance if the damage is so severe that water available for livestock, orchards, and vineyards has been reduced below normal to the extent that they cannot survive without additional water.

A producer qualifying for ECP assistance may receive cost shares not to exceed 75 percent of the cost of installing eligible temporary measures. Cost sharing for permanent measures is based in 50 percent of the total eligible cost. Cost-share assistance is limited to $200,000 per person or legal entity per natural disaster. Approved practices and measures may include:

Installing pipelines or other facilities for livestock water or existing irrigation systems for orchards and vineyards

Constructing and deepening wells for livestock water

Developing springs or seeps for livestock water.

Producers who have experienced severe drought conditions requiring outside assistance to provide supplemental emergency livestock water may contact the Tama County FSA office. Requests for assistance will be accepted until October 26, 2012. Water source related problems existing prior to the applicable disaster are ineligible for ECP assistance.

Producers are encouraged to contact the Tama County office at 102 Business Highway 30 W, Toledo for more information or on line at www.fsa.usda.gov.

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