Farm Service Agency offices in Paris and Lewiston are accepting Emergency Conservation Program applications to address damage from a severe windstorm Oct. 29, 2017.

Marcia L. Hall, county executive director for the USDA Farm Service Agency, said Oxford, Androscoggin and Sagadahoc counties have been approved to accept applications until March 2.

According to Hall, approved practices under this authorization include removing debris from farmland, grading, shaping, releveling or similar measures, restoring permanent fences and restoring conservation structures and other installations.

The Emergency Conservation Program is administered by the Farm Service Agency to assist producers with the cost of recovery activities required to restore the agricultural land to predisaster conditions. Producers who sustained damage from this disaster event are encouraged to submit their request for assistance prior to beginning reconstructive work. Submitting a request after completing qualified reconstructive work may result in forfeiture of program eligibility.

Farm Service Agency county committees will complete an evaluation of submitted requests and obligate available funds based on an on-site inspection of the damaged land, taking into consideration the type and extent of the eligible damage. Completion of the on-site inspection does not guarantee that cost-share funding will be allocated.

Approved applicants may receive up to 75 percent of the cost of completing the approved restoration activity.

For more information, contact the Oxford County office, 1570 Main St., Oxford, 207-743-5789; or the Androscoggin-Sagadahoc office, 254 Goddard Road, Lewiston, 207-753-9400.

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