Texas STAR Fund

Background: Texas agricultural farmers, ranchers, producers, and agribusiness owners rebuild and pick up the pieces after devastating natural disasters, and the need for donations continues.

The Fund: The STAR Fund (State of Texas Agriculture Relief Fund) was created solely with monetary donations from private individuals and entities to fund disaster recovery efforts. STAR Fund money may be used to assist farmers, ranchers and agribusiness owners in rebuilding fences, restoring operations and paying for other agricultural disaster relief. The Program is designed to provide relief to Texas agricultural entities adversely impacted by natural disasters. Drought is not an eligible natural disaster under the STAR Fund; refer to your local Farm Service Agency for drought assistance.

Assistance: TDA offers a cost share to qualified agricultural producers. To qualify, the applicant's county must be included in either a declaration of disaster by the Governor of Texas or a declaration of agricultural emergency by the Texas Commissioner of Agriculture; applicants then have 90 days from the date of either proclamation to submit an application. For each future disaster proclamation, TDA and the Texas Agriculture Commissioner determine whether the program should be activated and set specific details, including maximum award amounts. Funds are not intended to compensate for losses incurred, but to help cost-share some of the unexpected expenses associated with the repair or replacement of items necessary for an agricultural operation. Verification of the damage caused by the disaster is required before TDA disburses funds.

To qualify, the applicant's county must be included in either a declaration of disaster by the Governor of Texas or a declaration of agricultural emergency by the Texas Commissioner of Agriculture. Applicants then have 90 days from the date of either proclamation to submit an application. Drought is not an eligible natural disaster under the STAR Fund — refer to your local Farm Service Agency for drought assistance.

TDA offers a cost share to qualified agricultural producers. STAR Fund money may be used to assist in rebuilding fences, restoring operations, and paying for other agricultural disaster relief costs needed to rebuild agricultural operations. For each disaster proclamation, TDA and the Texas Agriculture Commissioner determine whether the program is activated and set specific details, including maximum award amounts (amounts are no longer a fixed 50% / $4,000 cap). Funds are intended to cost-share unexpected repair/replacement expenses, not to compensate for losses incurred. Verification of disaster damage is required before TDA disburses funds.

Check the STAR website to see if a disaster was declared in your area.

Complete the application.

Submit all required paperwork to one of the following three options:

• Email: STARFund@TexasAgriculture.gov

• Mailing Address: P.O. Box 12847, Austin, Texas 78711

• Physical Address: 1700 N. Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701