Balancing supply chain issues and federal disaster programs for producers

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Balancing supply chain issues and federal disaster programs for producers

JohnBurge_NebraskaFSA_KH_USDAWorkshop

The Executive Director for Nebraska’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) says supply chain issues could create additional challenges for disaster relief programs.

John Burge tells Brownfield there’s a gap between reimbursement and availability of fencing supplies in the market. “It’s clearly an issue. We have an issue not only with inflation and cost related to that, but also in terms of supply.”

Producers can be eligible to receive up to 75 percent of the cost to replace fences damaged by natural disasters through the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP).

He says adjustments have been made to ECP. “Cost-share documents are set early in the year. We have to review those. We’ve reviewed those against the fence cost. We’re pretty darn close in terms of repairing and replacing these fences that were lost, but there’s not a whole lot of room for adjustment in those arenas.”

He says his office is extending the replacement period for fences up to 12 months with the possibility of months or longer.

Burge says producers should contact their local USDA FSA office immediately if fences were damaged because of wildfires.

He spoke with Brownfield at a recent USDA workshop about potential assistance in Cambridge. 

John Burge, Nebraska FSA Executive Director:

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