Deadline to apply for drought recovery money July 28.
Funding is available to help landowners affected by last year’s extreme drought through the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
Alabama landowners in high priority counties will receive preference for financial assistance because they were impacted the most by drought, State Conservationist for Alabama Ben Malone said.
Eligible landowners should apply by July 28.
Funding is through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and will address fencing, water troughs, pasture, hay land re-establishment, wells and prescribed grazing.
Measures like planting drought-tolerant cool season grasses and installing water tanks and fencing will make lands more sustainable.
“Landowners across the state have weathered the drought for months, and these funds will assist them in replenishing losses and doing what they can to help their grazing lands recover,” Malone said.
During the worst of the drought, USDA reported more than $30 million in disaster funds were distributed nationally for livestock feed programs and noninsured disaster support.
Additionally, livestock feed was in short supply, so cattle sales were 19 percent ahead of 2015.
Landowners interested in applying for drought funding should contact their local USDA service center to learn more.