Missouri Agriculture Flood Resources
When flooding, occurs farmers are often impacted. Natural disasters can be a great threat to Missouri farm families and rural communities. This resource page will provide you with important information you will need in the event of a natural disaster to your farm land or community.
To find additional resources across the state, visit the Missouri Recovery Portal.
Missouri Treasurer's Office LIFT Recovery Loans
This program will assist residents and small businesses in Missouri who have been economically impacted by the natural disasters occurring in Missouri in 2019, including the tornadoes and storms in May and the historic long-term flooding throughout the state, Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick is implementing the Missouri Linked Deposit to Invest and Fund Timely Recovery (LIFT) Program.
The LIFT Program authorizes:
- Up to $2 million per deposit (double the maximum for Missouri FIRST)
- The maximum statutory discount to lending institutions for affected deposits
- Refinancing of funds for existing loans affected by the natural disasters
- Expedited approval notification (once due diligence has been completed)
To learn more and apply, visit the Missouri Treasurer's Office.
USDA Risk Management Agency Programs
During the winter of 2019-2020, USDA issued a Breached Levee Statement that reads:
"The applicable rate will be assigned based on conditions of the levee and soils on the latter of the sales closing date or earliest planting date. If, by that date, the levee has not been repaired to prior specifications, or if damaged soil (if any) has not been restored to at least the same crop yield potential as prior to the flood event, the land will be classified as high-risk and will have the highest rate classification in the county. However, if the levee is repaired to prior design specifications, and the soil has at least the same crop yield potential as before the flood, the land will be classified as shown on the current crop year Actuarial Map. If the levee has been temporarily or permanently repaired, but not to prior design specifications, by the latter of the sales closing date or earliest planting date, and the soil has at least the same crop yield potential as before the flood, then RMA may adjust the rate to an amount consistent with the level of flood risk by written agreement, if applicable. For RMA to consider any levee repair, RMA must be provided a certification from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or signed and sealed certification from a professional engineer who is currently licensed and registered in the state where the levee is located. For soils to be considered restored to the same crop yield potential as before the flood, you must sign a statement that damaged soil (if any) has been restored to at least the same crop yield potential as prior to the flood event."
USDA-FSA Programs
To find the contact information for your local USDA-FSA office, click here.
These programs can provide assistance to producers impacted by the flood.
Livestock Indemnity Program
Offers payments to eligible producers for livestock death losses in excess of normal mortality due to adverse weather. Eligible losses may include those determined by FSA to have been caused by hurricanes, floods, blizzards, wildfires, tropical storms, tornados, lightning, extreme heat and extreme cold. Producers will be required to provide verifiable documentation of death losses resulting from an eligible adverse weather event and must submit a notice of loss to their local FSA office within 30 calendar days of when the loss of livestock is apparent. Learn more...
Deadline to apply: Producers must submit a notice of loss to their local FSA office within 30 calendar days of when the loss of livestock is apparent.
Tree Assistance Program
Provides assistance to eligible orchardists and nursery tree growers for qualifying tree, shrub and vine losses due to natural disaster. Learn more...
Deadline to apply: Producers have the later of 90 calendar days of the disaster event, or the date when loss is apparent, to submit an application and supporting documentation.
Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP)
Provides emergency relief for losses due to feed or water shortages, disease, adverse weather or other conditions, which are not adequately addressed by other disaster programs. ELAP covers physically damaged or destroyed livestock feed that was purchased or mechanically harvested forage or feedstuffs intended for use as feed for the producer’s eligible livestock. In order to be considered eligible, harvested forage must be baled; forage that is only cut, raked or windrowed is not eligible. Producers must submit a notice of loss to their local FSA office within 30 calendar days of when the loss is apparent.
ELAP also covers up to 150 lost grazing days in instances when a producer has been forced to remove livestock from a grazing pasture due to floodwaters.
For beekeepers, ELAP covers beehive losses (the physical structure) in instances where the hive has been destroyed by a natural disaster, including flooding, high winds and tornadoes. Learn more...
Deadline to apply: Producers must submit a notice of loss to their local FSA office within 30 calendar days of when the loss is apparent.
Emergency Loan Program
Available to producers with agriculture operations located in a county under a primary or contiguous Secretarial Disaster designation. These low-interest loans help producers recover from production and physical losses due to drought and flooding. Learn more...
Deadline to apply: Applications for emergency loans must be received within 8 months of the county’s disaster designation date.
Emergency Conservation Program
Provides emergency funding for farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate land severely damaged by natural disasters, including fence loss. Learn more...
Deadline to apply: Sign up dates vary by county. Contact your local FSA office for program details and deadlines.
Hay Net
Is an Internet-based Hay and Grazing Net Ad Service allowing farmers and ranchers to share 'Need Hay' ads and 'Have Hay' ads online. Farmers also can use another feature to post advertisements for grazing land, specifically ads announcing the availability of grazing land or ads requesting a need for land to graze. Learn more...
Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program
Provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory or prevented planting occur due to natural disasters (includes native grass for grazing). Eligible producers must have purchased Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program coverage for 2017 crops. Learn more...
USDA-NRCS Program
Emergency Watershed Protection Program
The Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) was established by Congress to respond to emergencies created by natural disasters. The EWP Program is designed to help people and conserve natural resources by relieving imminent hazards to life and property caused by floods, fires, drought, windstorms, and other natural occurrences. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers the EWP Program; EWP-Recovery, and EWP–Floodplain Easement (FPE).
All projects must be sponsored by some unit of government like a county commission, city government or levee & drainage district.
NRCS can assist with the following projects:
- Stream bank stabilization around roads, bridges or buildings
- Debris removal from streams
- Levee repair on streams with drainage areas less than 400 square miles
Limitations of the EWP include:
- Cannot repair or rebuild a transportation facility such as roads or bridges
- Cannot be used for operation and maintenance activities
- Repairs are limited to pre-storm conditions
Duties of the sponsors include:
- Acquiring land rights and permits needed to construct the projects
- Completing paperwork to document our ability to proceed with projects
- Making provisions to pay for at least 25 percent of the cost of installation
- Using their staff or hiring an engineer to complete the design
- Local contracting of the work, including inspection of installation
- Completing required documentation for reimbursement
- Operating and maintaining the proposed measures for a period of ten years
Other Resources
- Missouri Farm Service Agency news releases
- USDA-FSA - Disaster Program Fact Sheets
- USDA-NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection Program
- USDA Service Center (FSA, NRCS and Rural Development)
- MU Extension - Corn and Soybean Replant Decisions
- MU Extension - CAFO Wet Weather Event Management
- MU Extension - Design Storm Alert System
- MU Extension - Weather Challenges Q&A
- MU Integrated Pest Management - Nitrogen Loss Scoresheet