TIMELINE

• On September 30, 2022, Emergency Drought Commissioners Blayne Arthur, Julie Cunningham and Trey Lam met and unanimously approved a program proposed by the Oklahoma Conservation Commission to distribute the $3 million appropriated by the State Legislature and approved by Governor Stitt in House Bill 2959 to Oklahoma ag producers. The program was then passed on to the Oklahoma Conservation Commission for final approval.
• On October 3, 2022, in their regular meeting, commissioners of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission unanimously approved the program, detailing how emergency drought funds will be made available to all 77 Oklahoma counties via a cost-share program and distributed by local Conservation Districts.
• On October 4, 2022, Governor Kevin Stitt approved $20 million in additional funds be appropriated to the Emergency Drought Commission as presented by the legislature in the special legislative session.
• On October 17, 2022, significant changes were made to the program by the Emergency Drought Commission in their third meeting, and an additional $5 million was added to the cost-share program. The changes include:
  • Making the Emergency Drought Cost-Share program available retroactively for pond clean out and new rural water tap projects started on or after June 11, 2022.
  • Allowing producers of all livestock used to financially support a family to apply.
  • Increasing maximum payments for pond clean outs to $2,500 for small sized ponds, $5,000 for medium sized ponds and $7,500 for large sized ponds.
  • Removing the requirement for drought condition certification for individual properties.
• On November 9, 2022, changes were made to the program by the Emergency Drought Commission and an additional $12 million was directed to Emergency Drought Cost-Share Funding.
  • Directing conservation districts to accept applications for all approved practices.
  • Clarifying cover crops planted for the purpose of erosion control are eligible for the program.
  • Announcing all practices included in the Emergency Drought Cost-Share Program may be funded retroactively to June 11, 2022, pending appropriate documentation provided by the applicant.
  • Opening a statewide application period that is set to close on November 28, 2022.
  • Allowing applications submitted prior to November 9, 2022, that have not received funding to be eligible for the updated program.
  • The remaining $4.5 million in funds appropriated to the Emergency Drought Commission will be allocated strategically as the commission continues to meet.
• On January 5, 2023, the Emergency Drought Commission directed all remaining funds allocated to the Commission.
  • The Commission determined any funds unused and returned by the local conservation districts should be redirected with the remaining funds.
  • The funding directed by the Commission totals approximately $5 million. Those funds will be distributed through the existing Cost-Share Program.
  • The Oklahoma Conservation Commission will disperse the remaining funds to conservation districts based on the number of unfunded applications in each local district.
  • No new applications are being accepted at this time.
• On May 8, 2023, the Emergency Drought Commission provided further guidance to producers who have been approved for pond cleanout through the Emergency Cost-Share Program.
  • Approved producers who have not completed their pond cleanout by June 1, 2023, will be contacted by their local conservation district to alert them that they have 45 days to complete the project.
  • Pond cleanout projects that require water to be pumped out of the pond are allowed.
• On August 23, 2023, the Emergency Drought Commission voted to reinstate Pond Clean Out Cost-Share participants whose applications were canceled due to not completing their projects by July 15. The Commission also tasked the Oklahoma Conservation Commission with gathering the applicants that will be reinstated. The Commission has asked the OCC to gather questions and concerns from local conservation districts to help with streamlining the process for applicants. Additionally, two new members joined the Emergency Drought Commission: Pete Nichols from Washita County and Josh Emerson from McIntosh County.
• On September 19, 2023, the Emergency Drought Commission voted to release all remaining funding allocated to the current Emergency Drought Cost-Share Program. The Commission also voted to extend the deadline for completing practices previously applied for through the Emergency Drought Cost-Share Program until June 30, 2024.
• On March 26, 2024, The Emergency Drought Commission voted to extend the deadline for practices related to water well drilling, pipeline, pumping plant and water facilities to December 31, 2024. In a separate motion, the Emergency Drought Commission voted to maintain the initial June 30 deadline for pond clean practices. Producers who are unable to complete a pond clean out by the deadline will receive priority during the next application period for the emergency drought cost-share.

Program Details

Producers interested in applying are encouraged to contact their local conservation district for more information. Contact information for each district can be found here.

Size of program:  $259,740 allocated to each County (not District)– remainder reserved for areas with higher levels of request

Cost share rate: Maximum 80%

Maximum payment: Not to exceed $7,500

Projected Timeline of Program: Guidelines were approved in the Oct. 3, 2022 Conservation Commission meeting initiating the start of the program.

Conservation Districts receive program guidelines and training Oct. 3-4, 2022 and then will begin implementation. 

Allocation Period: Oct. 3 – Dec. 2, 2022

• Review/Rank Applications – Select Applicants – 60 days
• Establish Completion Deadline and Develop Extension Protocol

Implement Practices: Begins no later than Dec. 2, 2022. Program will be completed by Dec. 2, 2023.

Reallocate any remaining funds to Districts with highest demand no later than Dec. 12, 2022.

Read more about the program here.

Livestock Forage Program

The Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who have suffered grazing losses for covered livestock on land that is native or improved pastureland with permanent vegetative cover or is planted specifically for grazing.

Eligibility for LFP is based on a county’s rating on the U.S. Drought Monitor. A county must have been considered in D2 (severe drought) status for eight consecutive weeks on the U.S. Drought Monitor or must have hit D3 (extreme drought) or D4 (exceptional drought) on the
U.S. Drought Monitor to be eligible. 

A map and list of eligible counties and pasture losses for LFP may be found on the FSA website. This database is updated weekly on Thursdays following posting of the U.S. Drought Monitor.

EMERGENCY CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM HAYING AND GRAZING

Emergency haying and grazing of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres may be authorized under certain conditions to provide emergency relief to livestock producers in times of severe drought or a similar natural disaster.

Approval for the emergency will be based upon drought severity as determined by the U.S. Drought Monitor. Eligible counties are posted each week at here following the Thursday drought monitor updates. Producers should contact their local FSA county office for eligible CRP practices.

EMERGENCY LIVESTOCK ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees and Farm-Raised Fish Program funds are available to assist in covering the cost to transport livestock to forage and grazing acres and the cost of hauling feed and water for livestock during drought.

A county must have been considered in D2 status for eight consecutive weeks on the U.S. Drought Monitor or must have hit D3 or D4 on the U.S. Drought Monitor.  

An online tool for calculating above normal cost and estimating payments is available here.