TEMPLE — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is opening a special disaster sign-up for $5 million in additional funding through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program for farmers and ranchers in the Texas Hill Country who have been impacted by recent flooding.
Producers in Kendall County must submit applications to the local USDA NRCS office by Oct. 3, 2025, to be considered for this opportunity.
Farmers and ranchers in 30 counties including Kerr and Kendall, are eligible for this opportunity.
“The Natural Resources Conservation Service in Texas is prepared to assist landowners with their efforts to address resource concerns caused by the recent flooding,” said Kristy Oates, NRCS state conservationist in Texas. “We know many of our Texas farmers and ranchers were affected by this disaster and we are here to help.”
NRCS Texas will use the ACT NOW process for this funding opportunity. Through ACT NOW, NRCS can immediately approve and obligate a ranked application when an eligible application meets or exceeds a determined minimum ranking score, of 25.
Assistance includes practices aimed at replacing damaged infrastructure such as fencing and water resources, as well as management and recovery of affected lands. Eligible practices for the flooding disaster funding include, but are not limited to:
• Fence.
• Watering facilities.
• Livestock pipeline.
• Critical area planting.
• Cover crop.
• Grassed waterway.
• Range planting.
• Wildlife habitat planting. For more information about applying for EQIP assistance or help with evaluating land to address concerns following the Hill Country floods, landowners and managers should contact their local USDA Service Center.
NRCS also administers the Emergency Watershed Protection program, which provides assistance to local government sponsors with the cost of addressing watershed impairments or hazards such as debris removal and streambank stabilization.
The EWP program is a recovery effort aimed at relieving imminent hazards to life and property caused by floods, fires, windstorms and other natural disasters. All projects must have an eligible project sponsor.
Due to the severity of the natural disaster conditions in Texas, up to 75% of the construction cost of emergency measures for EWP may be provided by NRCS. The remaining costs must come from local sources and can be in the form of cash or in-kind services.
EWP is designed for installation of recovery measures to safeguard life and property as a result of a natural disaster. Threats that the EWP Program addresses are termed watershed impairments. These include, but are not limited to:
• Debris-clogged waterways
• Unstable streambanks
• Severe erosion jeopardizing public infrastructure
• Wind-borne debris removal.
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