Bozeman, Mont., Sept. 6, 2024 —The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering technical and financial assistance through its Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to agricultural landowners impacted by 2024 wildfires in Big Horn, Powder River, and Rosebud counties. While NRCS accepts applications for all programs year-round, producers and landowners should apply for this opportunity by Oct. 25, 2024, to be considered for this funding cycle.
Since June, these counties have experienced several large wildfires in the same region that, together, have burned more than 225,000 acres. Farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners impacted by the following fires may be eligible for NRCS wildfire recovery assistance.
• Barber Draw
• Deadman Complex (Bull, Deadman, Haywood, McGhee, Nelson Draw, Three Circle)
• Four Mile
• Otter Road
• Prairie
• Remington
These fires caused the loss of property, livestock, agricultural infrastructure, and forage among other impacts. Extreme fire behavior was driven by drought conditions and high winds. The fires burned mainly across forest, range, and pasturelands and NRCS has identified burned areas that would benefit from recovery assistance. Areas where fire activity caused significant loss of vegetation will recover sooner and more fully with reseeding, limiting livestock access, and controlling weeds in the first year after the fire. Not only will these practices enhance recovery, they will help to reduce current and future erosion and limit weed infestation.
Impacted producers are encouraged to contact their local NRCS field office for more information.
• Big Horn County – 406-629-3220
• Crow Reservation – 406-629-3228
• Powder River County – 406-436-2321
• Rosebud County – 406-346-7333
• Northern Cheyenne Reservation – 406-740-0897
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