USDA_FSA_emergency_forest_restoration_program-fact_sheet
Pearl, MS – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the approval of the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) signup in all 82 counties in Mississippi. This program aims to provide financial and technical assistance to owners of nonindustrial private forestland (NIPF) to restore NIPF damaged by a qualifying natural disaster event. At this time, municipalities and homeowners are not eligible for the EFRP funding.
The sign-up period is from April 15 to August 15, 2024. To be eligible for the program, restoration activities must meet the technical standards set by the National Resources Conservation Service and/or State Forestry Agency (SFA). Participants are required to document and keep records of all costs incurred during the restoration process, including personal labor costs. The minimum qualifying cost of restoration is set at $1,000, with a payment limitation of $500,000.
The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) will administer the grant and oversee the EFRP. Following severe drought conditions last summer, all 82 counties in Mississippi were placed under a natural disaster status, making them eligible for the program.
Under the EFRP, financial assistance will be reimbursed after the completion of restoration activities. Participants will receive 75 percent of the lesser of the actual costs incurred or allowable cost. Upon approval of an EFRP application, participants are expected to perform restoration and conservation practices based on the FSA-848A, Cost-Share Agreement, and Restoration Plan provided.
About the Mississippi Forestry Commission
Established in 1926, the Mississippi Forestry Commission (MFC) protects the state’s valuable 19.2 million acres of forestland from wildfire, manages approximately 480,000 acres of forested School Trust Land, and delivers quality forest management services and assistance to rural and urban landowners. Our mission is to provide active leadership in forest protection, forest management, forest inventory, and effective forest information distribution, which is necessary for Mississippi’s sustainable forest-based economy. Mississippi’s forestry and forest products industries have a $12.79 billion economic impact and employ almost 70,000 people. Forestry consistently ranks as the state’s second most valuable agricultural commodity behind the poultry industry. The MFC is honored to have the continued privilege of caring for Mississippi’s trees, forests, and natural resources. To learn more about the Mississippi Forestry Commission, please visit www.mfc.ms.gov and follow us on social media @MSForestryComm on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.