SOUTH PARIS – Marcia Hall, county executive director of the Oxford County Farm Service Agency has announced programs available to local farmers and ranchers affected by Hurricane Irene. Hall urges producers to call or stop by the office to report any damage to farmland. Emergency Conservation Program payments may be made available to assist producers with debris cleanup, land grading, shaping and releveling, restoring permanent fencing and restoring conservation structures.

Producers are encouraged to file a notice of loss when a crop or planting is affected by natural disaster.

Also available are FSA’s disaster assistance programs authorized through the 2008 Farm Bill including the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program; the Livestock Indemnity Program; the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees and Farm-Raised Fish Program; the Livestock Forage Disaster Program and the Tree Assistance Program.

FSA is required to determine that the claimed loss was because of a disaster occurring on or before Sept. 30. FSA must determine if a qualifying loss meets the established disaster relief criteria for at least one crop.

For more information about disaster assistance programs, visit a local FSA county office or disaster.fsa.usda.gov.