Year after year, we see punishing weather in different regions of the country with devastating effects on agricultural production. A group of federal programs can provide some relief to family farmers after a disaster. This page includes disaster assistance information available from FLAG and other organizations. While the available resources do not make up for the physical, economic, and emotional distress incurred by farmers, hopefully these resources can begin to put farmers back on a path to recovery.

Farmers' Guide to Disaster Assistance

Update: What Help is Available for What Types of Disaster Losses? (Sept. 4, 2008)

FGDA Media Coverage

Disaster Readiness and Recovery: Legal Considerations for Organic Farmers

Resources

Farmers' Guide to Disaster Assistance
(Sixth Edition, 2008)

Written by FLAG attorneys, Farmers' Guide to Disaster Assistance 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. Chapter 1 includes a preview of programs authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill.

Chapters of the book may be downloaded below at no charge. A bound copy of the book is available by calling FLAG's office at 651-223-5400, or by using our order form. The charge is $40.00 plus shipping, through an online publisher. There may be slight delays as the book initially goes to press in June, 2008.

FLAG also offers the Farmers' Guide to Disaster Assistance on
CD-R. This CD includes the complete publication in searchable PDF format. The cost is $10.00. Price includes shipping. Call the FLAG office to request a copy.

Chapter 1: Table of Contents, Summary of Disaster Programs Chart, Introduction, and 2008 Farm bill Program Preview (18 pages, 310 KB )

Updates: FSA Notice DAP-285: Risk Management Purchase Requirement Waiver for 2008 Crop Year FSA Notice DAP-289: Announcing Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance Programs New Farm Bill Disaster Programs - Some Farmers May Need to Pay Fee by September 16 to be Eligible For 2008 Crop Losses

Chapter 2: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Programs (43 pages, 248 KB)

Updates: Farmers Affected by Natural Disasters May be Eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance

Chapter 3: Federal Crop Insurance (147 pages, 501 KB)

Chapter 4: Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) (69 pages, 337 KB)

Chapter 5: Emergency Conservation Program (34 pages, 248 KB)

Chapter 6: Disaster Assistance for Livestock Producers (27 pages, 240 KB)

Chapter 7: Farm Service Agency (FSA) Emergency (EM) Loans (92 pages, 412 KB)

Chapter 8: Farm Service Agency (FSA) Disaster Set-Aside (27 pages, 198 KB)

Chapter 9: Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loans (61 pages, 279 KB)

Chapter 10: Bankruptcy (21 pages, 228 KB)

Chapter 11: Federal Income Taxes (12 pages, 194 KB)

Appendix: Disaster Readiness and Recovery: Legal Considerations for Organic Farmers
(49 pages, 315 KB)

(If you have trouble downloading any of these files, contact .)

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FGDA Media

Brownfield Ag News for America radio interview with book's co-author, Jill Krueger (7/2/08)

American Agriculturist news story (7/1/08)

Farmers' Legal Action Group, Inc. press release (6/20/08)

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Disaster Readiness and Recovery: Legal Considerations for Organic Farmers
by Jill E. Krueger (Sept. 2007)

This article is a supplement to Farmers’ Guide to Disaster Assistance. It focuses on aspects of federal disaster assistance that are of particular relevance for organic farmers. The first part of the article discusses steps that organic farmers may take to plan for natural disaster. Advance planning may enable organic farmers to prevent or reduce the effects of natural disaster on their farms, prepare for the agronomic and financial impacts of natural disaster, and improve the resilience of their farms following a natural disaster.

The second part of the article discusses federal programs that provide assistance to farmers in order to recover from natural disaster. In large part, these are the same programs discussed in greater detail in Farmers’ Guide to Disaster Assistance. However, organic farmers face some barriers to full participation in federal disaster assistance programs. These materials are aimed primarily at helping farmers to understand and participate in the programs as they exist now. But improving the accessibility and effectiveness of federal disaster assistance for organic farmers is important to individual organic farmers, and may be crucial to restoring local and regional food systems when natural disaster strikes.

The article concludes by addressing questions farmers may have about how natural disaster and disaster recovery may affect their organic certification status. Most organic farmers have invested a number of years in achieving their “certified organic” status, and a loss of that status could have financial consequences for the farmer well beyond the loss of a single year’s crop.

Download the complete booklet (984KB)
Contact FLAG to order a print version for $11.50 (includes shipping).

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Resources

National

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
FEMA Info on Federally Declared Disasters
Farm Service Agency Disaster Assistance
Disaster Assistance Information at FoodSafety.gov
National Drought Mitigation Center
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Drought Information Center
National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (NVOAD)

Minnesota

Minnesota Farm Advocates
FSA Disaster Assistance (Minnesota)
Disaster Information from the University of Minnesota Extension Service
Minnesota Legal Services Coalition (MLSC)
The Rebuilding and Repairs After Storms , a suggested contract form on MSBA's website.

Montana

FSA Disaster Assistance (Montana)

North Dakota

FSA Disaster Assistance (North Dakota)

South Dakota

South Dakota Department of Agriculture: Drought Information

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