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Drought Relief Program Information

Related Documents: Soil Water Conservation District Office Directory and NCDA Drought Relief Program Guidelines FAQ , North Carolina Agriculture Cost Share Program Agricultural Drought Response Program Fact Sheet

The North Carolina General Assembly has authorized the Tobacco Trust Fund Commission to fund a $6 million grant program to assist farmers in recovering from the drought. The grant will used to fund a cost share program to aid farmers’ recovery from the drought, including cost share funding for: 1.) well construction and redrilling, 2.) pond construction and clean out and 3.) pasture renovation. 

The program will cover up to 75% of a farm’s costs for these activities, and is retroactive to August 1, 2007. In other words, if you made well, pond or pasture enhancements in response to the drought since August 1, those projects are eligible for cost share. In-kind contributions by the farmer, ie. the the farmer’s labor, count toward the farmer’s 25% share.

All NC farmers with less than $250,000 in adjusted gross income (from all sources, including non-farm sources) are eligible to apply for this funding. You do not need to be enrolled in any other program, you do not need an FSA number, you do not need an NAIS number, and you do not need crop insurance to be eligible.

You will need solid documentation of your needs, and the funding is only available to support your existing needs. Cost share funding is not available for expansion of your production systems or farm.

If you are interested in taking advantage of this program, it is urgent that you contact your local Soil & Water Conservation District/NRCS office right away. The local district offices will be receiving applications between May 1 and May 16, and these offices are the ones that will be ranking the applications that they get and deciding who qualifies for funding.

Ask those offices and local Soil & Water Board members now what criteria they will be using to evaluate applications so you can present the best application and the best documentation of your needs. The districts will start issuing contracts to approved applications on May 27.

NCDA has sent a letter to all NC farmers to let them know about the program. If you do not get that letter, please contact CFSA. But don’t wait for the letter to get in touch with your local Soil & Water District office. Getting a head start will help you collect your fair share of this funding.

Please spread the word about this program to other family farmers that you know who may be able to benefit from the program. Initial funding is limited, so the more swamped they are with requests, the more likely the Legislature is to allocate additional money later in the year.