Disaster Assistance for Agricultural Producers

Below we offer numerous links to NCAT and ATTRA resources, federal and state resources, nonprofit groups, aid organizations, and publications focusing on assistance available to farmers and the rural poor in the wake of hurricanes, floods, droughts, or other natural disasters.

• NCAT and ATTRA Resources
• USDA Resources
• Other Federal Resources
• Local, State and Nonprofit Resources
• Aid Organizations That Assist Farmers
• Publications

NCAT and ATTRA Resources

• Drought Presentations and Resource Guide - Three PowerPoint presentations focus on how to manage your cropland, pastures, or rangeland in good years, in order to minimize the impacts of drought when it occurs. Another three presentations discuss management practices that may be used during or following a drought. The Resource Guide provides a comprehensive text and Web-based materials, listed according to topics covered in the PowerPoint presentations.
• Building Better Rural Places - This extensive directory of federal programs that offer assistance in sustainable agriculture, forestry, conservation, and community development is written for anyone seeking help to foster innovative enterprises in agriculture and forestry in the U.S.
• Operation Fresh Start - A project of NCAT, this Web site is designed to empower individuals and communities as they recover from natural disasters by providing resources and tools that can help rebuild communities, businesses, and homes using sustainable principles and technologies.
• Sustainable Agriculture Organizations and Publications - This list of sustainable agriculture grassroots groups, nonprofits, and agencies is updated annually. State-by-state contacts for a broadly defined sustainable agriculture community are included to facilitate networking.

USDA Resources

• Farm Service Agency Disaster Assistance Programs, with information on Emergency Farm Loans, the Emergency Conservation Program, and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program
• Current Disaster Declarations: Rural Development Disaster Assistance
• Food and Nutrition Service: Food Distribution Disaster Assistance
• Aid for Agricultural Producers Affected by Hurricanes of 2005
• Application for Assistance: Poultry Mortality from Hurricane Katrina
• Hurricane Katrina Relief Information
• Hurricane Rita Relief Information

Other Federal Resources

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Natural Disasters and Weather Emergencies
• FEMA
• Federal Disaster Declarations
• Homeland Security: Preparedness & Response
• Hurricane Contracting Information Center
• National Hurricane Center
• National Weather Service
• Small Business Administration (SBA) - SBA Disaster Loan Assistance

Local, State and Nonprofit Resources

• American Red Cross
• Animal Management in Disasters
• Empire State Animal Response Team
• Extension Disaster Education Network with Member Institution Links for each state
• Flood Recovery Information and Assistance for Organic Farmers - Minnesota Department of Agriculture
• Governor's Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding, and Renewal (Mississippi)
• Gulf Restoration Network
• Hurricane Katrina Disaster Recovery - MSU Extension
• LSU AgCenter Hurricane Katrina Information
• Louisiana Hurricane Resources
• Louisiana Rebuilds.info
• Minnesota Disaster / Cleanup Assistance
• Mississippi Hurricane Resources
• National Drought Mitigation Center - University of Nebraska - Lincoln
• North Dakota State University Flood Information: Farm and Ranch Information
• Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group Hurricane Disaster Relief Resources
• Southern University Ag Center—Helpful Hints for Preparing Livestock for a Hurricane
• Sow the Seeds Fund
• TechSoup
• Texas Department of Agriculture Hay and Grazing Hotline
• Texas Hurricane Resources
• Upper Midwest Haylist

Aid Organizations That Assist Farmers

• AgriWellness, Inc.
• America's Second Harvest: The Nation's Food Bank Network
• American Red Cross
• Cooperative Development Foundation
• Cooperative Disaster Relief Fund
• Farm Aid
• Good Farmer Fund, Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance (Seattle)
• Harvest of Hope
• Heifer International
• National Family Farm Coalition
• Oxfam America's Hurricane Katrina Response and Recovery Fund
• Southern Mutual Help Association (SMHA) Rural Recovery Fund
• Tilth Producers of Washington Farmer Relief Fund

Publications

• Assessing Landscape Tree Loss - Louisiana State University AgCenter
• Barn Disaster Planning - University of Minnesota Extension
• Barnyard Animal Rescue Plan - American Red Cross
• Caring for Livestock Before a Disaster (PDF / 41 K) - Colorado State University Extension
• Caring for Livestock During a Disaster (PDF / 84 K) - Colorado State University Extension
• Caring for Livestock After a Disaster (PDF / 38 K) - Colorado State University Extension
• Disaster Assistance for Farmers Affected by Hurricane Katrina (PDF / 48 K)
  This brief document by Jill Krueger of Farmers' Legal Action Group, Inc. (FLAG) provides succinct advice on steps farmers should take to protect their families and document and report any damages.
• Farmers' Guide to Disaster Assistance (5th edition 2004)
  This publication describes in plain language the rules for programs such as FEMA assistance, federal crop insurance, USDA's Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, and Emergency Loans from USDA's Farm Service Agency." Bound copies of the book are available free to financially distressed farmers by calling 651-223-5400. The complete book is also available for free online.
• Hurricane Preparedness for Livestock - Texas AgriLife Extension
• Hurricanes...Unleashing Nature's Fury: A Preparedness Guide - NOAA, revised August 2001 (PDF / 1.2 M)
  This publication focuses on planning for hurricanes and explains what hurricanes are, how they form, what their impacts are, and where to get assistance.
• Livestock and Poultry Buildings: After the Flood (PDF / 580 K) - North Carolina Cooperative Extension
• Preparing the Farm and Farm Animals for Disasters (PDF / 56 K) - American Veterinary Medical Association
• Small Fruit Strategies After a Storm - Louisiana State University AgCenter
• Southern Gardening: Propagate damaged plants after hurricane - Mississippi State University Extension column

Last Updated October 9, 2008

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ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service is managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) and is funded under a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Business-Cooperative Service. Visit the NCAT Web site for more information on our sustainable agriculture projects.

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