BANGOR – David Lavway, state executive director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Maine, has announced that USDA is providing $32,000 in Emergency Conservation Program funding to farmers and landowners in Cumberland and York counties due to flooding and $5,000 to farmers and landowners in Androscoggin County for damage caused by high winds.

“This is one of several conservation programs that provide funding for farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate and strengthen environmental stewardship of their lands,” said Lavway. “These new ECP funds will be used to help farmers rehabilitate farmland damaged by flooding and high winds and other natural disasters in recent years.”

The program gives producers additional resources to remove debris from farmland, restore fences and conservation structures, provide water for livestock in drought situations and grade and shape farmland damaged by a natural disaster.

USDA Farm Service Agency state and county committees administer the program. Locally-elected county committees are authorized to implement it for all disasters except drought. Eligible producers will receive cost-share assistance of up to 75 percent of the cost of the approved practice, as determined by FSA county committees.

Producers should check with their local offices regarding sign-up periods. More information is available at local FSA offices and online at: http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.