PARIS — Tropical Storm Irene caused severe damage throughout Oxford County.

Farms and ranches suffering severe damage may be eligible for assistance under the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) administered by the Oxford County Farm Service Agency Office if the damage: will be so costly to rehabilitate that federal assistance is or will be needed to return the land to productive agricultural use; is unusual and is not the type that would recur frequently in the same area; affect the productive capacity of the farmland or will impair or endanger the land.

A producer qualifying for ECP assistance may receive cost-share levels not to exceed 75 percent of the eligible cost of restoration measures. No producer is eligible for more than $200,000 cost sharing per natural disaster occurrence.

The following types of measures may be eligible: removing debris from farmland; grading, shaping, or releveling severely damaged farmland; restoring permanent fences; or restoring conservation structures and other similar installations.

Oxford County producers who have suffered a loss from a natural disaster may contact the Oxford County FSA Office and request assistance until Tuesday, Dec. 13. To be eligible for assistance, practices must not be started until all of the following are met: an application for cost-share assistance has been filed; the local FSA County Committee or its representative has conducted an onsite inspection of the damaged area and the agency responsible for technical assistance.