USDA Resources Available for Farmers Hurt by 2018, 2019 Disasters

Signup Begins Sept. 11 for More Than $3 Billion in Aid

WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 9, 2019 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that agricultural producers affected by natural disasters in 2018 and 2019, including Hurricane Dorian, can apply for assistance through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+). Signup for this U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program will begin Sept. 11, 2019.

“U.S. agriculture has been dealt a hefty blow by extreme weather over the last several years, and 2019 is no exception,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “The scope of this year’s prevented planting alone is devastating, and although these disaster program benefits will not make producers whole, we hope the assistance will ease some of the financial strain farmers, ranchers and their families are experiencing. President Trump has the backs of our farmers, and we are working to support America’s great patriot farmers.”

More than $3 billion is available through the disaster relief package passed by Congress and signed by President Trump in early June. WHIP+ builds on the successes of its predecessor program the 2017 Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program (2017 WHIP) that was authorized by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. In addition, the relief package included new programs to cover losses for milk dumped or removed from the commercial market and losses of eligible farm stored commodities due to eligible disaster events in 2018 and 2019. Also, prevented planting supplemental disaster payments will provide support to producers who were prevented from planting eligible crops for the 2019 crop year.

Eligibility

WHIP+ will be available for eligible producers who have suffered eligible losses of certain crops, trees, bushes or vines in counties with a Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration or a Secretarial Disaster Designation (primary counties only). Disaster losses must have been a result of hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, typhoons, volcanic activity, snowstorms or wildfires that occurred in 2018 or 2019. Also, producers in counties that did not received a disaster declaration or designation may still apply for WHIP+ but must provide supporting documentation to establish that the crops were directly affected by a qualifying disaster loss. 

A list of counties that received qualifying disaster declarations and designations is available at farmers.gov/recover/whip-plus.  Because grazing and livestock losses, other than milk losses, are covered by other disaster recovery programs offered through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), those losses are not eligible for WHIP+.

General Eligibility and Payment Limitations

WHIP+ is only designed to provide assistance for production losses, however, if quality was taken into consideration under federal crop insurance or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) policy, where production was further adjusted, the adjusted production will be used in calculating assistance under this program.

Eligible crops include those for which federal crop insurance or NAP coverage is available, excluding crops intended for grazing. A list of crops covered by crop insurance is available through USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) Actuarial Information Browser at webapp.rma.usda.gov/apps/actuarialinformationbrowser.

Eligibility will be determined for each producer based on the size of the loss and the level of insurance coverage elected by the producer. A WHIP+ factor will be determined for each crop based on a producer’s coverage level. Producers who elected higher coverage levels will receive a higher WHIP+ factor.

The WHIP+ payment factor ranges from 75 percent to 95 percent, depending on the level of crop insurance coverage or NAP coverage that a producer obtained for the crop. Producers who did not insure their crops in 2018 or 2019 will receive 70 percent of the expected value of the crop. Insured crops (either crop insurance or NAP coverage) will receive between 75 percent and 95 percent of expected value; those who purchased the highest levels of coverage will receive 95-percent of the expected value.

Once signup begins, a producer will be asked to provide verifiable and reliable production records. If a producer is unable to provide production records, WHIP+ payments will be determined based on the lower of either the actual loss certified by the producer and determined acceptable by FSA or the county expected yield and county disaster yield. The county disaster yield is the production that a producer would have been expected to make based on the eligible disaster conditions in the county.

WHIP+ payments for 2018 disasters will be eligible for 100 percent of their calculated value. WHIP+ payments for 2019 disasters will be limited to an initial 50 percent of their calculated value, with an opportunity to receive up to the remaining 50 percent after January 1, 2020, if sufficient funding remains.

WHIP+ benefits will be subject to a payment limitation of either $125,000 or $250,000 per crop year, depending upon their verified average adjusted gross income. As under 2017 WHIP, the payment limitation for WHIP+ factors in the person’s or legal entity’s income from activities related to farming, ranching, or forestry.  Specifically, a person or legal entity, other than a joint venture or general partnership, cannot receive more than $125,000 in payments under WHIP+, if their average adjusted gross farm income is less than 75 percent of their average adjusted gross income (AGI) for 2015, 2016, and 2017.  The $125,000 payment limitation is single total combined limitation for payments for the 2018, 2019, and 2020 crop years.  However, if at least 75 percent of the person or legal entity’s average AGI is derived from farming, ranching, or forestry related activities and the participant provides the required certification and documentation, the person or legal entity, other than a joint venture or general partnership, is eligible to receive, directly or indirectly, up to $250,000 per crop year in WHIP+ payments, with a total combined limitation for payments for the 2018, 2019, and 2020 crop years of $500,000.  The relevant tax years for establishing a producer’s AGI and percentage derived from farming, ranching, or forestry related activities for WHIP+ are 2015, 2016, and 2017. For information regarding the payment limitation that applies to WHIP+, please contact your local USDA service center or visit farmers.gov/recover.

Future Insurance Coverage Requirements

Both insured and uninsured producers are eligible to apply for WHIP+. But all producers receiving WHIP+ payments will be required to purchase crop insurance or NAP, at the 60 percent coverage level or higher, for the next two available, consecutive crop years after the crop year for which WHIP+ payments were paid. Producers who fail to purchase crop insurance for the next two applicable, consecutive years will be required to pay back the WHIP+ payment.

Additional Loss Coverage

The Milk Loss Program will provide payments to eligible dairy operations for milk that was dumped or removed without compensation from the commercial milk market because of a qualifying 2018 and 2019 natural disaster. Producers who suffered losses of harvested commodities, including hay, stored in on-farm structures in 2018 and 2019 will receive assistance through the On-Farm Storage Loss Program.

Additionally, the disaster relief measure expanded coverage of the 2017 WHIP to include losses from Tropical Storm Cindy, and peach and blueberry crop losses that resulted from extreme cold.

Enhanced Assistance Through Tree Assistance Program (TAP)

TAP traditionally provides cost-share for replanting and rehabilitating eligible trees. WHIP+ will provide payments based on the loss of value of the tree, bush or vine itself. Therefore, eligible producers may receive both a TAP and a 2017 WHIP or WHIP+ payment for the same acreage.

In addition, TAP policy has been updated to assist eligible orchardists or nursery tree growers of pecan trees with a tree mortality rate that exceeds 7.5 percent (adjusted for normal mortality) but is less than 15 percent (adjusted for normal mortality) for losses incurred during 2018. 

Prevented Planting

Agricultural producers faced significant challenges planting crops in 2019 in many parts of the country. All producers with flooding or excess moisture-related prevented planting insurance claims in calendar year 2019 will receive a prevented planting supplemental disaster (“bonus”) payment equal to 10 percent of their prevented planting indemnity, plus an additional 5 percent will be provided to those who purchased harvest price option coverage.

As under 2017 WHIP, WHIP+ will provide prevented planting assistance to uninsured producers, NAP producers and producers who may have been prevented from planting an insured crop in the 2018 crop year and those 2019 crops that had a final planting date prior to January 1, 2019.

Other USDA Disaster Recovery Assistance

When major disasters strike, USDA has an emergency loan program that provides eligible farmers low-interest loans to help them recover from production and physical losses.

Livestock owners and contract growers who experience above normal livestock deaths because of specific weather events, as well as from disease or animal attacks, may qualify for assistance under USDA’s Livestock Indemnity Program. Producers who suffer losses to or are prevented from planting agricultural commodities not covered by federal crop insurance may be eligible for assistance under USDA’s Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program if the losses were from natural disasters.

USDA’s Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program provides payments to producers of these commodities to help compensate for losses because of diseases (including cattle tick fever) and adverse weather or other conditions, such as blizzards and wildfires, that are not covered by other disaster programs.

USDA also provides financial resources through its Environmental Quality Incentives Program for immediate needs and long-term support to help recover from natural disasters and conserve water resources. Additionally, the Emergency Watershed Protection Program helps local communities immediately begin relieving imminent hazards to life and property caused by floods.  In addition, the Emergency Conservation Program provides funding and technical assistance for farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters and help put in place methods for water conservation during severe drought. 

For more information on FSA disaster assistance programs, please contact your local USDA service center or visit farmers.gov/recover. For all available USDA disaster assistance programs, go to USDA’s disaster resources website.

In the largest prosecution of organic fraud in U.S. history, Iowa grain seller sentenced to 10 years in prison

Jesse Hirsch

UPDATE 8/21/2019, 7:46 a.m. The Associated Press is reporting that Randy Constant was found dead, apparently by suicide. He was found by police in a vehicle in his garage in Chillicothe, Missouri, according to the AP. The coroner in Livingston County said that he had died of carbon monoxide poisoning, which was confirmed by a post-mortem exam at the University of Missouri Medical Center. The New Food Economy will work to confirm these details.

Shade-grown coffee. Pastured chicken. Organic milk. What do these foodstuffs share in common? Each one comes with an elevated origin story, helping to fetch a higher price at the grocery store. Perhaps more importantly, these items require a degree of consumer confidence that their backstories are legitimate. As such, they are susceptible to fraud.

“Any time there’s a claim of a certain pedigree, an origin that the consumer is not equipped to verify independently, the market is ripe for fraud,” says Doug Moyer, PhD, a professor of public health at Michigan State University, and a researcher at MSU’s Food Fraud Institute.

The only assurance the public has that a product is actually organic is a USDA certification label.

Case in point: Last Friday, as part of an ongoing federal investigation, the perpetrator of the largest case of organic fraud in United States history was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison. Between 2010 and 2017, court documents show that farmer Randy Constant ran a massive Iowa grain brokerage, selling more than $142 million in supposedly “organic” animal feed to livestock farmers throughout the Midwest. In turn, the products those farmers sold to the public under the USDA-certified organic label—meat, dairy, and eggs—were virtually indistinguishable from their conventionally produced counterparts.

“Thousands upon thousands of consumers paid for products they did not get and paid for products they did not want,” U.S. District Judge C.J. Williams said at Friday’s sentencing, according to court documents. “This has caused incalculable damage to the confidence the American public has in organic products.”

In 2018, U.S. organic food sales topped $47.9 billion, up almost $3 billion from the previous year, and following a steady annual increase since at least 2009. At retail, the price markup for organic over conventional products can run as little as 5 or 6 percent for produce items, to well over 100 percent for beef and other meats.

There is a range of factors for the price differential, but put simply, growing organic food requires additional costs on the part of the farmer. This is due to both more labor-intensive operational costs and the inability to apply the easy-touch pesticides and insecticides often required in conventional farming (a limited number of chemicals are approved for use by organic growers.)

The only assurance the public has that a product is actually organic is a USDA certification label. This indicates that the food producer in question successfully went through a lengthy application process, and is subject to at least one inspection per year. 

One of the strictest requirements for organic-certified meat, dairy, and eggs is that grain-based animal feed must have been grown without synthetic pesticides, the same as crops grown for human consumption. With the USDA’s animal welfare standards for organic producers eroding, this feed requirement is arguably the most important distinguisher between conventional and organic meat products.

Prosecutions of organic fraud are fairly uncommon, especially at this scale.

Court documents show that Constant purchased his grain through a brokerage he owned called Jericho Solutions, then sold it to livestock farmers. Three grain farmers were given lesser sentences alongside Constant, all of whom were found guilty of knowingly growing fraudulent corn and soy for the grain brokerage (the DOJ predicts more arrests to come). DOJ claims that Constant’s products accounted for 8 percent of all organic soybeans grown in the U.S. in 2016, and 7 percent of comparable organic corn.

Constant exploited the organic/conventional price differential by selling faux-organic feed at prices that couldn’t be matched by competitors. In fact, other, presumably honest organic feed producers allegedly reported Constant to federal investigators, claiming his prices were simply too low for the crops to have been produced organically. Other grain farmers couldn’t compete. 

“The only reason this investigation ever happened was that others in the industry reported [Constant],” says Mark Kastel, founder of the organic watchdog organization Cornucopia Institute, which has been assisting the Department of Justice (DOJ) in its investigation. 

Indeed, prosecutions of organic fraud are fairly uncommon, especially at this scale. Factors include dwindling resources at USDA’s National Organic Program, paired with an inspection system rife with loopholes. For instance, organic certifiers are often hired by farmers themselves. Inspections are usually made with days or weeks of advance notice. And pesticide testing on the grains themselves is rarely done. Additionally, monitoring imported organic grains, which have been in the spotlight recently for repeated cases of fraud, has been a drain on federal resources.

Moyer suspects there’s less of an appetite to prosecute organic fraudsters, especially when it comes to animal feed, as there is little risk to human health. He points out instances of food adulteration like antifreeze in wine and melamine in baby formula that had serious public health consequences. “It may be that [organic fraud] seems like more of a victimless crime,” says Moyer. “Unless of course, you’re the consumer who’s been paying extra for fake products.”

This sentiment is echoed by the Organic Trade Association (OTA), the organic industry’s biggest lobbying group. “Trust in the organic seal is critical, and the Organic Trade Association supports actions by the USDA to uphold the integrity of organic,” said OTA’s executive director, Laura Batcha, in a statement to The New Food Economy.  “The vast majority of organic producers and stakeholders work hard every day to abide by the standards, but for the ones who don’t, there are consequences. We hope this ruling serves as a deterrent for future attempts at fraud. Enforcement of the organic standards is critical for the continued success of organic.”

Constant’s particular scam involved a process Moyer refers to as “salting,” wherein a small proportion of legitimate product—in this case, organic grain—is mixed with fraudulent product, a simple means of throwing inspectors off the scent. Another form of salting comes in the reverse—for instance, a small amount of a cheaper item is mixed in with the legitimate product, producing large savings in the aggregate. This type of fraud is prevalent with spices like oregano and olive oil, and can have dire public health consequences as in the 2014 case of cumin salted with peanut shells.

Despite the lack of precedent for cases like Constant’s, Moyers hopes this is a watershed moment for organic authenticity. “This has been devastating for an industry that is largely built on consumer confidence,” he says. “I’m thrilled this conviction happened, though. This is how you rebuild trust.”

We reached out to USDA for comment, and will update if and when they respond.

Environment, Farm, Home Feature, JusticefarmersfraudgrainOrganicUSDA

Footrot Webinar Set for June 4

The next in a series of educational webinars sponsored by the American Sheep Industry Association's Let's Grow Program will discuss the causes, treatment and prevention of footrot in sheep. 

The cause of this condition in sheep and goats is the same so treatments should be effective in both species.

Purdue University Extension Small Ruminant Specialist Mike Neary, Ph.D., will lead the webinar, which will be hosted by Jay Parsons, Ph.D., from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Predators and footrot have probably caused more sheep producers to leave the business through the years than any other causes. Footrot is costly to deal with in terms of labor costs, health product costs and reduced performance by animals in the flock. It can also be a humane and animal welfare issue in flocks with a high prevalence of footrot.

Footrot is highly contagious and can be difficult to eradicate, yet is entirely preventable. Footrot is caused by the synergistic action of two anaerobic bacteria: Fusobacterium necrophorum and Bacteroides nodosus. The condition is aggravated when environmental conditions such as mud, moisture and warmth are present. This discussion will include how sheep acquire footrot, how to prevent it, and how to control and eradicate it.

Click Here to register for the webinar. 

Mississippi's Alcorn State plans buck test

Alcorn State University in Lorman, MS will be hosting a field day on Small Ruminate Production on June 1, 2019. Speakers will include Dr Maria Leite-Browning DVM (Alcorn State University), Dr Richard Browning Jr Ph.D. (Tennessee State University), and several other great speakers! This will be a great opportunity for anyone wanting to learn about the ever growing meat goat industry. 

In addition to all of the great info, Dr Maria Leite- Browning will be announcing the long awaited Alcorn State University Buck Test tenatively scheduled to begin in 2020. There will be an opportunity to tour the facilities and review the test protocol. I encourage all regional producers, who can make it, to attend. 

This would be a great opportunity to show the university that there is strong regional support for the Alcorn State University Buck Test. Joseph Knetter of Wistlin Dixie Kikos and Phillip Wilborn of Just Kiddin Caprines have been working with Dr. Maria for nearly 2 years to establish the groundwork for this very important test to be conducted in the parasite-harsh Southeastern United States.

Tuskegee plans artificial insemination workshop

Tuskegee University will hold an Artificial Insemination (AI) Workshop in Goats on May 21-23, 2019 from 9 am-3 pm daily.This workshop is sponsored by USDA/NIFA and the Tuskegee University Cooperative Extension Program. 

This hands-on workshop is limited to 20 participants and will take place at the Tuskegee University Caprine Research and Education Unit. 

Registration is $35 and includes lunch and all training materials. This interactive training program will allow agriculture producers to receive instruction on the reproduction of goats, including anatomy, physiology and reproductive management of does and bucks as well as the advantages and limitations of using AI. 

The workshop will also provide hands on training in estrus synchronization and AI techniques. 

For more information, contact Atiya Shahid at ashahid9106@tuskegee.eduor 334-727-8403. Please visit https://tuskegee.edu/aiworkshopfor registration, materials and additional information. 

Tuskegee University Annual Goat Day April 27

The Tuskegee (Alabama) University Annual Goat Day will be held on Saturday, April 27, 8:30am - 4:00 pm. The theme of this year’s Goat Day is “The Use of Drones for Grazing Management and Forage Growth.”

The featured speakers include Ronald Smith from Tuskegee University, Andres Cibils from New Mexico State University, Jerry Dan Swafford from Virginia Cooperative Extension Service-Virginia Tech and Bill Blackwelder from the Delta Southern UAS from Clarksdale, Miss. 

The speakers will highlight the benefits of using drones/unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)/unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in modern day animal agriculture, with an emphasis on their use to benefit small and limited resource producers. 

These speakers have many years of working with drones and UAV/UAS subjects and will share their expertise with the TU Goat Day participants. Further, Dr. Nar Gurung, Director of the TU Caprine Research and Education Unit, will provide an update on the status of goat research and extension/outreach activities at the unit. 

Brady Ragland, director of the Alabama Meat Goat & Sheep Producers (the Meat Goat & Sheep Division of Alabama Farmers Federation), will moderate the roundtable discussion that will feature sustainable goat production practices, challenges and opportunities in meat goat production. 

The afternoon will be filled with numerous field day activities, providing attendees with hands-on experience related to topics discussed in the morning sessions as well as exposure to a plethora of products unique to the goat industry. 

Registration materials may be obtained at http://www.tuskegee.edu/goatday. For more information contact Dr. Nar Gurung at 334-727-8457 or 334-421-8620 or e-mail at ngurung@tuskegee.edu. Exhibitors/Vendors please contact Nikisha Ryan at 205-212-8463 or nryan5624@tuskegee.edu. 

USDA Assists Iowa Farmers, Ranchers, Communities Affected by Flooding

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2019 - To help residents, farmers, and ranchers affected by the devastation caused by recent flooding, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to aid Iowans in their recovery efforts. USDA staff in the regional, state, and county offices are providing a variety of program flexibilities and other assistance to residents, agricultural producers, and impacted communities at large.

“USDA is committed to helping Iowa farmers, ranchers and communities impacted by the devastating flooding to successfully recover following this disaster,” Perdue said. “Our staff in your local USDA Service Center is eager to help connect you with the vital services we offer, and where possible, putting people before paperwork.”

Helping Operations Recover After Disasters

Beginning today, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices in the Iowa counties of Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Pottawattamie and Woodbury are accepting applications for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) to address damages from spring flooding. ECP enrollment deadlines may vary by county, as such, producers need to contact their local FSA office for more information. Additional flexibilities have been provided to help reduce and streamline the burdensome environmental assessments typically required by ECP.

Last week, FSA also announced that emergency grazing use of Conservation Reserve Program acres is approved in Iowa through May 14, 2019. Orchardists and nursery tree growers may be eligible for assistance through USDA’s Tree Assistance Program to help replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes, and vines damaged by natural disasters.

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides financial resources through its Environmental Quality Incentives Program to help with immediate needs and long-term support to help recover from natural disasters and conserve water resources.

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has information about protecting livestock on its Protecting Livestock During a Disaster page. Additionally, the agency is helping to meet the emergency needs of pets and their owners, as inspectors are coordinating closely with zoos, breeders, and other licensed facilities in the region to ensure the safety of animals in their care.

Farm Production and Conservation Agencies Helping Producers Weather Financial Impacts

When major disasters strike, USDA has an emergency loan program that provides eligible farmers low-interest loans to help them recover from production and physical losses. USDA also offers additional programs tailored to the needs of specific agricultural sectors to help producers weather the financial impacts of major disasters and rebuild their operations.

Livestock owners and contract growers who experience above normal livestock deaths due to specific weather events, as well as to disease or animal attacks, may qualify for assistance under USDA’s Livestock Indemnity Program. Producers who suffer losses to or are prevented from planting agricultural commodities not covered by federal crop insurance may be eligible for assistance under USDA's Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program if the losses were due to natural disasters.

USDA’s Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program provides payments to these producers to help compensate for losses due to disease (including cattle tick fever), and adverse weather or other conditions, such as blizzards and wildfires, that are not covered by certain other disaster programs.

Helping Iowans Access Food Post-Storm

Following the flooding in Iowa, USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) approved Iowa’s request to operate the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) in the Iowa counties of Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona and Woodbury. Households that may not normally be eligible under regular SNAP rules may qualify for D-SNAP if they meet the disaster income limits and have qualifying disaster-related expenses.

FNS also is providing extended time for current SNAP recipients in these Iowa counties to seek replacement of food lost due to the disaster. SNAP regulations normally require households to report lost food within 10 days of purchase. However, USDA approved the Iowa Department of Human Services’ request to extend this time period, so SNAP households have until April 30, 2019, to request replacement benefits.

USDA Helping Residents Protect the Safety of their Food

As residents make it back into their homes, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is helping ensure they are taking the proper steps to reduce the risk of foodborne illness. Food safety tips after a power outage and flooding are available on the FSIS website.

USDA encourages those whose homes flooded during the storm to take steps to protect the safety of their food.

Tips to protect food safety after flooding occurs:

• Drink only bottled water that has not come in contact with flood water. Discard any bottled water that may have come in contact with flood water.
• Discard any food that is not in a waterproof container if there is any chance it may have come in contact with flood water. Food containers that are not waterproof include those with screw-caps, snap lids, pull tops, and crimped caps.
• Discard wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples, and pacifiers that may have come in contact with flood water.
• Thoroughly wash with hot soapy water all metal pans, ceramic dishes, and utensils that came in contact with flood water. Sanitize by boiling them in clean water or by immersing them for 15 minutes in a solution of 1 tablespoon unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water.
• Undamaged, commercially prepared foods in all-metal cans and retort pouches (for example, flexible, shelf-stable juice or seafood pouches) can be saved. Follow the “Steps to Salvage All-Metal Cans and Retort Pouches” in the publication Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency at: www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/emergency-preparedness/keeping-food-safe-during-an-emergency/CT_Index

USDA Helping Impacted Communities Recover

During declared natural disasters that lead to imminent threats to life and property, NRCS can assist local government sponsors with the cost of implementing recovery efforts such as debris removal and streambank stabilization to address natural resource concerns and hazards through the Emergency Watershed Protection Program.

USDA Rural Development (RD) offers technical assistance, loans, grants, and loan guarantees to rural communities and individuals to assist with the construction or rehabilitation of utility infrastructure including water and wastewater systems, community infrastructure, and housing.

Housing Programs

Homeowners who have an RD home loan and were impacted by the flood should call the Customer Service Center at 800-414-1226 to discuss payment assistance options. Homeowners with an RD guaranteed home loan should immediately contact their lender and file an insurance claim.

Community Programs

Rural communities of 10,000 or fewer residents who have suffered a significant decline in the quantity or quality of their water may be eligible for Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants to establish new water sources or repair water transmission lines. Communities also may be eligible for Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households grants to begin developing feasibility studies for new water and waste disposal projects. Please contact USDA Rural Development staff in the Atlantic office at712-243-2107, Ext. 4, or visit www.rd.usda.gov/ia for more information.

Business Programs

RD also partners with the U.S. Small Business Administration to assist rural businesses impacted by natural disasters. Please call 515-284-4663 or visit www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-industry-loan-guarantees/ia for more information.

Long-Term Recovery and Rehabilitation

RD offers more than 40 direct loan, guaranteed loan, grant and technical assistance programs to help communities impacted by natural disasters with their long-term recovery and rehabilitation efforts. The programs assist rural communities and individuals with the construction or rehabilitation of utility infrastructure including water, wastewater, electric and telecommunications systems. They also help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas, expand housing opportunities, and enhance community services such as public safety, education and health care.

Additional information can be found at www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/services/rural-development-disaster-assistance.

Visit USDA’s disaster resources website to learn more about USDA disaster preparedness and response. For more information on USDA disaster assistance programs, please contact your local USDA Service Center. To find your local USDA Service Center go to offices.usda.gov.

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