Emergency Conservation Program (ECP)
Advance payment for fence replacement raised to 75% of payment. Wildfire eligibility expanded to include human-caused (including federally-caused) wildfires.
What ECP does
The Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) provides emergency funding and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters, droughts, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, ice storms.
Typical ECP-funded activities:
- Removing debris from farmland
- Restoring fences
- Restoring conservation structures
- Rehabilitating eligible farmland
What changed in the Farm Bill 2.0
1. Higher advance payments for fences
Previously, advance payments for fence repair/replacement were limited to 25% of total payment. The Farm Bill 2.0:
- 75% advance for fence replacement (based on market value)
- 50% advance for fence repair (based on market value)
This is a major operational improvement, landowners no longer have to front the full cost of fence replacement after a disaster.
2. Updated technology eligible
Repair and replacement can include updated technology (improved fencing, monitoring) if it doesn’t increase cost.
3. Wildfire eligibility expanded
ECP previously covered wildfires occurring as part of natural events. The Farm Bill 2.0 expands eligibility to include wildfires not caused naturally, including wildfires caused by the federal government.
This change matters for landowners affected by:
- Forest Service-prescribed burns that escape
- Power line-caused wildfires (where federal land or activity contributes)
- Other human-caused wildfires
Funding adjustments
ECP gains $43M over FY2026–FY2031, with $0 net change over the 11-year window. Funding is mandatory CCC.
Who ECP matters for
- Ranchers with fence losses from wildfires, floods, or other disasters
- Producers affected by federally-caused wildfires
- Landowners needing fast emergency funding
- Rural landowners in disaster-prone regions
How to apply
After a disaster:
- Contact your local FSA county office
- Apply within the eligibility period announced for the disaster
- ECP funds activate when a disaster damages multiple agricultural operations
- Practice approval before commencing work
- Cost-share typically 50–75% of eligible costs