USDA increases grain storage disaster funding

USDA exploring additional grain storage funding assistance.

Wheat Field Dark Storm Clouds Alois Wonaschuetz Pixabay
Alois Wonaschuetz | PIXABAY.com

TheU.S. Department of Agriculture’sFarm Service Agency (FSA) is beginning to issue cost-share assistance payments through theEmergency Grain Storage Facility Assistance Program(EGSFP) for approved and funded applications that have met the requirements for partial or final payment.

FSAfirst announced $20 million for this program in Marchto help producers affected by eligible disaster events from December 1, 2021, through August 1, 2022, thatdamaged or destroyed large commercial grain elevatorsin eight Midwest states.

Due to the high volume of program applications received, FSA has amended the originalNotice of Funds Availability (NOFA)to increase the initial funding amount for EGSFP to $80 million in cost-share assistance.  

Tornado, derecho outbreak impacted 8 states

The unprecedented outbreak of tornadoes and derechos impacted numerous counties in Kentucky, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota and Tennessee.

重大损害或破坏当地,康门cial elevators left many grain producers with limited storage capacity for harvested commodities and with no or limited marketing options. This support is being made available under the Commodity Credit Corporation, which allows USDA to act quickly to help agricultural producers navigate significant and unpredictable challenges.

“The applications that FSA has received for this assistance under our original funding announcement far exceed the limited funding available for the program,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “Given the critical need for assistance across the countryside, the now $80 million allocation will be used to fund additional eligible applications that have already been received.”

Even with the $80 million in support for EGSFP– quadruple the original funding allocation – this program will not be able to meet the needs of many producers who are still experiencing storage deficits due to these disaster events. For this reason, FSA has secured an additional $40 million in reallocated CCC funds to provide much-needed help to producers and is exploring options outside of EGSFP to do so. Details will be announced in the coming weeks.

To be eligible for EGSFP, producers must have eligible grain production and demonstrated a need for additional on-farm grain storage in an affected county impacted by an eligible disaster.    

Approved EGSFP applicants who meet the requirements for payment will receive cost-share assistance for the construction of new or renovated grain storage capacity and equipment required to meet drying and handling needs to support the orderly marketing of commodities in counties affected by these disaster events.

To learn more about FSA programs, producers can contact their localUSDA Service Center.   

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