MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Farmers who incurred losses or damages in the most recent round of floods in West Virginia can qualify for assistance through the federal Farm Service Agency.
“We call it ELAP, which is the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program,” said West Virginia FSA Acting Executive Director Michael Taylor. “That is a program put in place to help farmers replace crop loss.”
Indications are a lot of hay which had already been baled and corn still standing in the field awaiting harvest was lost in the most recent high water. A number of farmers also incurred damages to fields, fences, and other structure standing along side streams which rose from their banks. There is a separate program available for help in those instances according to Taylor.
“Emergency Conservation Program is in place,” said Taylor. “That helps farmers who had any losses as far as along streams and flood damage for fences. It can also be for debris removal, grading, and re leveling from the flood waters.”
Farmers who need assistance can start at the Farm Service Agency office in their local area. Over the past 13 months the FSA has dolled out significant assistance to West Virginia producers dating back to the floods of 2016 and the same assistance is now offered to farmers in the areas of the 2017 high water event.