Disaster Assistance for Farmers and Forest Landowners
The agencies of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) provide technical and financial resources to farmers, ranchers and forest landowners. The resources listed below include programs for disaster assistance, environmental conservation and economic development in rural areas of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
USDA agencies work together to ensure the nation’s food security, protect agricultural production, boost the development of rural communities, maintain the quality of food and agricultural products, ensure access to healthy food, provide markets for products and to conserve natural resources.
USDA Disaster Assistance Programs
Natural events, such as hurricanes, windstorms or droughts, can cause destruction and devastation to farms and livestock which result in material and monetary losses for farmers.
Consequently, the USDA offers various incentive programs to protect producers from these events.
PROGRAMS (click on the link for each program for more information):
- Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, Farm-Raised Fish (Agencia: FSA)
- Emergency Conservation Program (Agencia: FSA)
- Emergency Loan Program (Agencia: FSA)
- Livestock Forage Disaster Program (Agencia: FSA)
- Livestock Indemnity Program (Agencia: FSA)
- Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (Agencia: FSA)
- Tree Assistance Program (Agencia: FSA)
Disaster Assistance for Farmers
Story Maps
Discover 100+ USDA assistance programs for agriculture and livestock, rural development, disaster relief, conservation and nutrition.
The USDA, offers technical and economic assistance to farmers, ranchers and private landowners, for the enhancement of livestock, forestry, and the rural economy.
This Story Map developed by the Caribbean Climate Hub provides information on the various programs offered by the fourteen USDA agencies that provide services in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Each incentive program is aimed at a particular audience. In some cases, non-profit corporations, municipal governments and academic institutions are eligible, in other cases they are available to farm owners only.
How to request USDA services and programs?
- It depends on the program and the agency providing the help. We recommend that you visit the regional offices of the Agency that administers the program that provides the financial assistance (such as matching of funds, loans, insurance or grants) or technical assistance (such as preparation of management plans or visits to the property) that interests you.
- All grants from the federal government must be requested through grants.gov.
Disaster Assistance for Agriculture and Livestock
Protecting agricultural lands and ensuring the continued supply of food are USDA priorities. One of the USDA agencies with the largest presence in the U.S. Caribbean is the Farm Service Agency (FSA), which has a range of programs aimed to: conserve resources in agricultural areas, provide financial aid to farmers and ranchers, assist in disaster situations and promote rural development.
PROGRAMS (click on the link for each program for more information):
- Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services (Agencia: NRCS)
- Beginning Farmers and Ranchers (Agencia: FSA)
- Business & Industry Loan Guarantees (Agencia: RD)
- Conservation Contracts (Agencia: FSA)
- Conservation Innovation Grants (Agencia: NRCS)
- Conservation Technical Assistance (Agencia: NRCS)
- Direct Farm Operating Loans (Agencia: FSA)
- Direct Farm Ownership Loans (Agencia: FSA)
- Environmental Quality Incentive Programs (Agencia: NRCS)
- Farmers Market Promotion Program (Agencia: AMS)
- Farm to School Grant Program (Agencia: FNS)
- Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (Agencia: AMS)
- Guaranteed Farm Operating Loans (Agencia: FSA)
- Guaranteed Farm Ownership Loans (Agencia: FSA)
- High Tunnel and Organic Transition (Agencia: NRCS)
- Intermediary Relending Program (Agencia: RD)
- Local Food Promotion Program Grants (Agencia: AMS)
- Microloans (Agencia: FSA)
- Primary Loan Servicing Program (Agencia: FSA)
- Organic Initiative (Agencia: NRCS)
- Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program for Geographically Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (Agencia: FSA)
Programs for the Conservation of Natural Resources
The USDA offers various conservation programs that are designed to promote sustainable rural development and agricultural activities. These programs promote important practices related to erosion control, water quality and wildlife habitat protection (NRCS).
PROGRAMS (click on the program link for more information):
- Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (Agencia: NRCS)
- Agricultural Conservation Experience Services (Agencia: NRCS)
- Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program(Agencia: USFS)
- Conservation Contracts (Agencia: FSA)
- Conservation Innovation Grants (Agencia: NRCS)
- Conservation Reserve Program (Agencia: FSA)
- Conservation Stewardship Program (Agencia: NRCS)
- Emergency Watershed Protection Program (Agencia: NRCS)
- Environmental Quality Incentives Program (Agencia: NRCS)
- Forest Legacy Program (Agencia: USFS)
- Forest Stewardship Program (Agencia: USFS)
- Healthy Forests Reserve Program (Agencia: NRCS)
- Joint Chief’s Landscape Restoration Partnership Program (Agencia: USFS)
- Regional Conservation Partnership Program (Agencia: NRCS)
- Urban and Community Forestry (Agencia: USFS)
- Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (Agencia: NRCS)
- Working Lands for Wildlife Program (Agencia: NRCS)
Taking care of your Farm or Home after a Hurricane
USDA Offices in the U.S. Caribbean
USDA Offices in Puerto Rico:
(APHIS) Servicio de Inspección de Animales y Plantas
654 Ave. Luis Muñoz Rivera, Plaza Suite 700, San Juan, PR 00918
Tel: (787) 766-6050 / (787) 771-3611
(ARS) Servicio de Investigación Agrícola
Ave. Pedro Albizu Campos, Suite 201, Mayagüez, PR 00682
Tel. (787) 831-3435
(FNS) Servicio de Alimentos y Nutrición
654 Ave. Luis Muñoz Rivera, Plaza Suite 702, San Juan, PR 00918
Tel: (787) 766-5586
(FSA) Agencia del Servicio Agrícola
654 Ave. Luis Muñoz Rivera, Plaza Suite 829, Hato Rey, PR 00918
Tel: (787) 294-1613
(NRCS) Servicio Nacional de Conservación de Recursos Naturales
654 Ave. Luis Muñoz Rivera, Plaza Suite 604, Hato Rey, PR 00918
Tel: (787) 766-5206 / (787) 787-281-4836
(RD) Desarrollo Rural
654 Ave. Luis Muñoz Rivera, Plaza Suite 601, Hato Rey, PR 00918
Tel: (787) 766-5095
(RMA) Agencia para la Administración de Riesgos
Ave. González Giusti #27, Suite 400, San Patricio Guaynabo, PR 00968
Tel: (787) 722-2748 o 2965
(FS) Servicio Forestal – Instituto Internacional de Dasonomía Tropical
Jardín Botánico Sur, 1201 Calle Ceiba, San Juan, PR 00926
Tel: (787) 766-5335
USDA Offices in the U.S. Virgin Islands:
USDA Service Center Office
4401 Estate Sion Farm Suite 2
Christiansted, VI 00820
T: (340) 692-9662
F: (855) 418-2508
*Serves St. Croix, St. John & St. Thomas
St. Croix County Farm Service Agency
4401 Estate Sion Farm Suite 2
Christiansted, VI 00820
T: (340) 773-9146 ext 100
F: (855) 478-8386
*Serves St. Croix, St. John & St. Thomas.
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