Florida Irrigation Recovery Block Grant Program
The Irrigation Recovery Block Grant is no longer accepting new applications and the program has closed. If you have any questions, please contact Alex Chuntz at alex.chuntz@em.myflorida.com.
Florida Irrigation Recovery Block Grant Program (“IRBG”) is available to agricultural producers who suffered damage to their crop and irrigation system as a result of Hurricane Michael. Compensation is provided directly to producers that meet certain loss and general eligibility requirements. The program is managed by the Florida Division of Emergency Management in conjunction with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the US Department of Agriculture.
To be eligible for the IRBG, a producer must be the owner of record of center pivot irrigation infrastructure at the time of application and document that the crop growing under the center pivot as of October 10, 2018 sustained a minimum 15% crop loss due to Hurricane Michael. Eligible producers must be located in one of the following Florida counties:
- Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Hamilton, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Okaloosa, Suwannee, Taylor, Wakulla, Walton, and/or Washington.
Ownership Requirement
To be eligible for IRBG financial assistance, a producer must be a person or legal entity that is a:
- Citizen of the United States;
- Resident alien;
- Partnership consisting solely of citizens or resident aliens of the US; or
- Corporation, limited liability corporation, or other farm organizational structure organized under State law consisting solely of citizens or resident aliens of the US.
Loss Requirement
To be eligible to receive IRBG financial assistance, a producer must have sustained a minimum 15% crop loss for the crop that was growing under the center pivot on October 10, 2018. This loss must be attributable to Hurricane Michael and be properly documented. See Payment Calculation section below for more details.
The following formula will be utilized to determine the amount of your IRBG payment amount:
- Up to $70 per linear foot, not to exceed actual repair/restoration costs, times
- total linear footage, minus
- any insurance payment received for the same loss, if applicable, times
- 50 percent payment factor.
Irrigation System Loss Reimbursement =
((Linear Feet x $70) - Insurance Payments) x 50% Payment Factor
Producers must provide proof of eligible expenses and proof of payment up to the amount they are able to receive through the block grant. Your Account Manager will assist with calculating your eligible payment amount and with collecting the required supporting documentation.
Producers who receive funding through the IRBG are required to obtain Federal Crop Insurance or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance (NAP) coverage for the next available two consecutive years for which such coverage is available (either 2021 and 2022 or 2022 and 2023). This applies to the crop(s) types under the center pivot irrigation on October 10, 2018. Crop insurance must be purchased at the 60/100 level of coverage (or equivalent) where insurance is available. Whole Farm Revenue Protection at the 60 percent level may also be purchased. Producers that received payment under the IRBG and do not comply with this requirement will be required to refund any payments received to the State.
This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency, under Federal Award Identification No. FSA20GRA0010342
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In addition, any reference to specific brands or types of products or services does not constitute or imply an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for those products or services. In addition with respect to any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed herein, neither the United States Government nor the Cooperative Processor makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Users bear the sole responsibility for decisions affecting program participation and may want to consult other resources.
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