OSU Extension Service provides comprehensive post-fire resources for Eastern Oregon
By Joe Hathaway on Thursday, August 1st, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
EASTERN OREGON — The Oregon State University Extension Service has compiled an extensive list of resources to assist Eastern Oregon residents affected by recent wildfires. These resources aim to support livestock and agricultural producers facing immediate and long-term challenges.
Immediate Assistance for Livestock and Crops
Farmers and ranchers can seek immediate assistance through their local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office. Key programs available include:
Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) – provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory, or prevented planting occur due to natural disasters including excessive wind and qualifying drought (includes native grass for grazing).
Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) – offers payments to eligible producers for livestock death losses in excess of normal mortality due to adverse weather.
Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) – provides emergency relief for losses due to feed or water shortages, disease, adverse weather, or other conditions, which are not adequately addressed by other disaster programs.
Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) – provides emergency funding for farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate land severely damaged by natural disasters; includes fence loss.
Learn more about these and other disaster relief programs at farmers.gov/protection-recovery/wildfire
Contact your local Farm Services Agency(FSA) Center
Baker County
3990 Midway Dr, Baker City, OR 97914-1453
Phone: (541) 523-7121 x 2
Executive Director: Krista Dennis (krista.dennis@usda.gov)
Crook/Deschutes County
625 SE Salmon Ave Bldg A, Redmond, OR 97756
Phone: (541) 923-4358
Executive Director: Marti Petersen (Marti.Petersen@usda.gov)
Gilliam/Wheeler County
234 S Main St, Condon, OR 97823
Phone: (541) 523-7121
Executive Director: Adrianna Salutregui (Adrianna.salutregui@usda.gov)
Grant/Harney County
530 Hwy 20 S, Hines, OR 97338
Phone: (541) 573-6446 x 2
Executive Director: Emma Gabriel (emma.gabriel@usda.gov)
Lake County
17612 Hwy 395, Lakeview, OR 97630
Phone: (541) 947-2367
Executive Director: Marti Petersen (Marti.Petersen@usda.gov)
Malheur County
2925 SW 6th Ave, Ontario, OR 97914-4632
Phone: (541) 889-9689
Executive Director: Tyler Johnson (tyler.johnson2@usda.gov)
Morrow County
430 W Linden Way, Heppner, OR 97835
Phone: (541) 676-9011
Executive Director: Adam Doherty (adam.doherty@usda.gov)
Umatilla County
1 SW Nye Ave Suite100, Pendleton, OR 97801
Phone: (541) 278-8049
Executive Director: Blair Pottala (blair.pottala@usda.gov)
Union County
1901 Adams Ave Suite 6, La Grande, OR 97850
Phone: (541) 963-4178
Executive Director: Justin Faulhaber (Justin.Faulhaber@usda.gov)
Wallowa County
401 NE 1st St Suite E, Enterprise, OR 97828
Phone: (541) 426-4521
Executive Director: Megan Lulay (megan.lulay@usda.gov)
Technical Expertise
For technical expertise regarding livestock, post-fire rehabilitation, and land management, call Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center at (541) 573-8900 and/or contact:
• Dr. Juliana Ranches – livestock health and smoke exposure (juliana.ranches@oregonstate.edu)
• Dr. Chad Boyd, Dustin Johnson, Dr. Katie Wollstein – post-fire rehabilitation, grazing management (chad.boyd@oregonstate.edu, dustin.johnson@oregonstate.edu, katherine.wollstein@oregonstate.edu)
• Dr. Katie Wollstein – wildfire preparedness and response (katherine.wollstein@oregonstate.edu)
Questions related to agriculture and natural resources, family and community health, and more may be directed to the OSU Extension Service office in your county.
• Find your local extension office: extension.oregonstate.edu/find-us
• Did you evacuate due to wildfire (or other disaster) and don’t have access to a computer and/or internet connection? Extension offices house Ag Disaster Relief Resource Computers, available to producers to access federal/state relief programs.
Wildfire Response and Recovery
Oregon Wildfire Response & Recovery website (wildfire.oregon.gov/recovery) provides guidance on topics that include:
• Wildfire insurance
• Filing a homeowners claim after the fire
• Returning to a home that survived a fire
• Replacing lost or missing documents
• Next steps for people whose homes or businesses burned
Soil and Water Conservation District Assistance
Your county’s Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) may have funding available to landowners for emergency water development and repair, fencing, and seeding. Call your county’s SWCD office to learn about program offerings.
Crook SWCD
498 SE Lynn Blvd, Prineville, OR 97754
Phone: (541) 447-3548 Website: http://www.crookswcd.com/
Deschutes/Jefferson SWCD
625 SE Salmon Ave, Suite 7, Redmond, OR 97756
Phone: (541) 923-2204 Website: https://www.deschutesswcd.org/
Fort Rock-Silver Lake/Lakeview SWCD
17612 Hwy 395, Lakeview, OR 97630
Phone: (541) 947-5855 E-mail: LakeviewSWCD2@hotmail.com
Gilliam SWCD
333 S Main St, Condon, OR
Phone: (541) 384-2672 E-mail: gillswcdmanager@gmail.com
Baker Valley/Burnt River/Keating/Eagle Valley SWCD
3990 Midway Dr, Baker City, OR 97814
Phone: (541) 523-7121 E-mail: whitney.collins@or.nacdnet.net
Website: bvswcd.specialdistrict.org
Grant SWCD
721 S Canyon Blvd, John Day, OR 97845
Phone: (541) 575-0135 Website: http://www.grantswcd.net/
Harney SWCD
530 Hwy 20 S, Hines, OR
Phone: (541) 573-5010 Website: http://www.harneyswcd.org/
Malheur SWCD
2925 SW 6th Ave, Suite 2, Ontario, OR 97914
Phone: (541) 889-2588 Website: malheurcoswcdorg.netfirms.com/swcd/
Monument SWCD
311 Wilson Street, Monument, OR
Phone: (541) 934-2141 Website: www.monumentswcd.org
Morrow SWCD
430 Linden Way, Heppner, OR
Phone: (541) 676-5452 Website: http://www.morrowswcd.org/
Umatilla SWCD
200 SE Hailey Ave Suite 108, Pendleton, OR 97801
Phone: (541) 276-8131 Website: www.umatillacountyswcd.com
Union SWCD
10507 N McAlister Road, Rm 7, La Grande, OR 97850
Phone: (541) 963-1313 Website: unionswcd.org
Wallowa SWCD
401 NE 1st St, Enterprise, OR 97828
Phone: (541) 426-4521 E-mail: cynthia.a.warnock@gmail.com
Wheeler SWCD
40535 Hwy 19, Fossil, OR 97830
Phone: (541) 468-2990 Website: http://www.wheelerswcd.org/
Long-Term Support
For longer term management needs, contact the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) field office in your county to explore current funding/technical support available and inform future program offerings in your county. Go to https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/conservation-by-state/oregon/whats-available-in-my-county or call your local service center:
Baker County
3990 Midway Dr, Baker City, OR 97914-1453
Phone: (541) 523-7121
Acting District Conservationist: Chad Davis (chad.davis3@usda.gov)
Crook County
625 SE Salmon Ave Bldg A, Redmond, OR 97756
Phone: (541) 699-3206
District Conservationist: Chris Mundy (chris.mundy@usda.gov)
Gilliam/Wheeler County
234 S Main St, Condon, OR 97823
Phone: (541) 384-4251
District Conservationist: DelRae Ferguson (delrae.ferguson@usda.gov)
Harney County
530 Hwy 20 S, Hines, OR 97338
Phone: (541) 573-6446 x 2
District Conservationist: Rachel Beaubien (rachel.beaubien@usda.gov)
Lake County
17612 Hwy 395, Lakeview, OR 97630
Phone: (541) 947-2367
District Conservationist: Abby Wicks (abby.wicks@usda.gov)
Malheur County
2925 SW 6th Ave, Ontario, OR 97914-4632
Phone: (541) 889-9689
District Conservationist: lynn.larsen@usda.gov
Morrow County
430 W Linden Way, Heppner, OR 97835
Phone: (541) 676-5021
District Conservationist: Jennifer Wilson (Jennifer.wilson2@usda.gov)
Umatilla County
1 SW Nye Ave Suite100, Pendleton, OR 97801
Phone: (541) 278-8049
Acting District Conservationist: Heath Hoeft (heath.hoeft@usda.gov)
Union County
1901 Adams Ave Suite 6, La Grande, OR 97850
Phone: (541) 963-4178
Acting District Conservationist: Ana Gordon (ana.gordon@usda.gov)
Wallowa County
401 NE 1st St Suite E, Enterprise, OR 97828
Phone: (541) 263-3044
Acting District Conservationist: Sarah Kunkle (sarah.kunkle@usda.gov)
Agri-Stress Hotline
For those struggling with stress or mental health challenges, the Oregon Agri-Stress Hotline offers confidential support 24/7 at (833) 897-2474.
This comprehensive list of resources is designed to help Eastern Oregon communities recover and rebuild after the devastating wildfires.
