Funds available to aid wildfire victims

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering a total of $3 million in financial aid to families directly affected by recent wildfires in Elmore County.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program, or EQIP, is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers through contracts of up to 10 years, the USDA reported.

"These contracts provide financial assistance to help plan and implement conservation practices that address natural resource concerns and for opportunities to improve soil, water, plant, animal, air and related resources on agricultural land and non-industrial private forestland," the agency said.

Financial help currently available focuses on wildfire recovery work on privately owned range and pasture land and non-industrial forest land. According to local officials with the National Resources Conservation District, the program includes $2 million for equipment and another $1 million for wildlife habitat incentives.

Applications are due by Friday, Aug. 30. For more information, stop by the Natural Resources Conservation Service field office in Mountain Home, located at 795 North Haskett Street, or call 587-3616.