Browse Ambrook’s collection of grants, loans, discounts, cost shares, easements, and insurance for operations experiencing forest damage.

Funding for EFRP is determined by Congress. Up to 75% of the cost to implement emergency conservation practices can be provided, however the final amount is determined by the committee reviewing the application. The FSA County Committee is able to approve applications up to $50,000 while $50,000 to $100,000 requires state committee approval. Amounts over $100,000 require the approval of the national FSA office. Additionally, a limit on payments of $500,000 per person or entity per disaster applies.

Owners should check with their local FSA office to find out about EFRP sign-up periods after a natural disaster has occurred.

The Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) helps the owners of non-industrial private forests restore forest health damaged by natural disasters. The EFRP does this by authorizing payments&#x2004;to owners of private forests to restore disaster damaged forests. Forests provide shelter for wildlife, help provide nutrients for soil, and help protect water supplies. By restoring forests and forest health the EFRP works to protect natural resources and wildlife habitats.


The local FSA County Committee implements EFRP for all disasters with the exceptions of drought and insect infestations. In the case of drought or an insect infestation, the national FSA office authorizes EFRP implementation.



The Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) helps the owners of non-industrial private forests restore forest health damaged by natural disasters. The EFRP does this by authorizing payments to owners of private forests to restore disaster damaged forests. Forests provide shelter for wildlife, help provide nutrients for soil, and help protect water supplies. By restoring forests and forest health the EFRP works to protect natural resources and wildlife habitats.

The local FSA County Committee implements EFRP for all disasters with the exceptions of drought and insect infestations. In the case of drought or an insect infestation, the national FSA office authorizes EFRP implementation.

The FSA County Committee inspects the damage to determine if forest land is eligible for EFRP. For land to qualify for EFRP funds, the damage from the natural disaster must create new conservation problems that if not dealt with would (1) harm the natural resources on the land and/or (2) significantly affect future land use.

Only owners of nonindustrial private forests with tree cover existing before the natural disaster occurred are eligible to apply. The land must be owned by a private individual, group, association, corporation or other private legal entity that has decision making authority on the land and doesn’t use the land for business purposes.

FSA county committees determine land eligibility using on-site damage inspections that assess the type and extent of damage. To be eligible for EFRP,  nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) land must:
- Have existing tree cover (or had tree cover immediately before the natural disaster occurred and is suitable for growing trees); and
- Be owned by any nonindustrial private individual, group, association, corporation, or other private legal entity.

A payment that requires some percentage of matching contributions by the recipient.

Cost Share

A lump sum of money for a specific purpose that does not need to be paid back.

Grant

Forestry

Forest Residues

Timber

Trees

Air Quality

Certification

High Tunnel

Landscape

Soil Health

Wildlife & Pollinator Habitat

Coronavirus

Fencing

Trade Relief

Wildfire

Reduced Tillage

Fertilizer

Waste & Manure Management

Certified Organic

Certified Grassfed

Cover Crops

Drought

Flood

Hurricane

Tornado

Weeds

Emergency

Conservation

Regenerative

Carbon Capture

Water Management

Forest Management

Disaster Relief

Weather

Cost-share rate. "EFRP provides cost-share assistance of up to 75% of the cost of approved conservation practices." The governing rule is tighter than that reads: "an EFRP participant will not receive more than 75 percent of the lesser of the participant's total actual cost or of the total allowable costs, as determined by this subpart, to perform the practice" (7 CFR 701.226(a)). You cover the remaining 25% or more.

Payment cap. "A person, or legal entity, as defined in part 1400 of this title, is limited to a maximum cost-share of $500,000 per person or legal entity, per natural disaster" (7 CFR 701.226(b)). The cap resets per qualifying disaster event, and "The Secretary may waive the maximum limitations" in either paragraph "to the maximum extent allowed by law."

No double-dipping. If you receive other federal funds covering the same expenses, you must refund the EFRP payment, except where the Deputy Administrator reduces the refund to keep total federal assistance within the limit.

What is covered. Removing debris from forestland; site preparation for natural regeneration or tree planting; tree planting and forest stand improvement; restoring forestland roads and stream crossings; and other practices that mitigate disaster impact. Practice specifications "must represent the minimum level of performance needed to restore the land to the applicable FSA, NRCS, Forest Service, or State forestry standard." Technical support comes with the program.

How money is allocated. "The availability of EFRP funds is subject to annual appropriations and is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Funding priorities may be established based on the severity of the disaster and the extent of the damage." Sign-ups open after a qualifying disaster — "Forestland owners should apply as soon as possible after the disaster occurs." Eligible land is non-industrial private forest land where the damage "significantly impair[s] the land's productivity or pose[s] a threat to forest health." No contract term in years is published.

Applications were accepted until June 30, 2024, via the online portal at IdaliaTimberRecovery.FDACS.gov or by mail. Contact Will Liner, CFA Supervisor: William.Liner@FDACS.gov, (850) 681-5881.

Will Liner

The Hurricane Idalia Silviculture Recovery Program aims to restore Florida's forest lands damaged by Hurricane Idalia through cost-share funding specifically for site preparation and tree replanting on classified agricultural lands.



Eligible applicants are timber landowners in 17 counties: Charlotte, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Suwannee, and Taylor. Sites must have been forested on August 30, 2023, with significant hurricane-related timber damage.

Reimbursement covers 75% of actual costs or the practice maximum, whichever is lower, with a maximum of $250,000 per agreement. Eligible practices: site preparation, pine seedling replanting, seedling purchase, and post-planting herbicide costs.

List of Agricultural Funding for Operations Experiencing Forest Damage