Disaster Assistance

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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FARM SERVICE AGENCY FACT SHEET

October 2017

Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP)

OVERVIEW

The Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP), 

administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture 

(USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA), provides 

payments to eligible owners of nonindustrial private 

forest (NIPF) land in order to carry out emergency 

measures to restore land damaged by a natural 

disaster.

PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION

EFRP enrollment is administered by FSA state and 

county committees and county offices. Producers 

should inquire with their local FSA county office 

regarding EFRP enrollment periods and eligibility.

LAND ELIGIBILITY

FSA county committees determine land eligibility 

using on-site damage inspections that assess the type 

and extent of damage. To be eligible for EFRP, 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.

COST-SHARE PAYMENTS

Cost-share payments are:

• Up to 75 percent of the cost to implement 

approved restoration practices; and

• Limited to $500,000 per person or legal entity 

per disaster.

ELIGIBLE FOREST RESTORATION 

PRACTICES

To restore NIPF, EFRP participants may implement 

emergency forest restoration practices, such as:

• Debris removal, such as down or damaged trees, 

in order to establish a new stand or provide for 

natural regeneration;

• Site preparation, planting materials and labor to 

replant forest stand;

• Restoration of forestland roads, fire lanes, fuel 

breaks or erosion control structures;

• Fencing, tree shelters and tree tubes to protect 

trees from wildlife damage; and

• Wildlife enhancement to provide cover openings 

and wildlife habitat.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

This fact sheet is for informational purposes only; 

other eligibility requirements may apply. More 

information on EFRP is available at FSA offices, 

local USDA service centers and on FSA’s website at 

http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov and 

www.fsa.usda.gov/conservation. To find your local 

FSA office, visit http://offices.usda.gov.

_________________________________________________________________

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of 

Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its 

Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or 

administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based 

on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including 

gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, 

family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, 

political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in 

any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply 

to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program 

or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication 

for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American 

Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s 

TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA 

through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program 

Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.

ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write 

a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information 

requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 

632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary

 for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C.

 20250-9410;

2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or

3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.