16 U.S.C. § 2201 — Emergency conservation program

(a) In general. The Secretary of Agriculture may pay agricultural producers who take emergency steps to control wind erosion on farmland or restore farmland damaged by wind erosion, floods, hurricanes, wildfires, or other natural disasters. The payment is allowed when the damage creates new conservation problems that (1) would harm or endanger the land if untreated; (2) substantially affect the land's productive capacity; (3) are unusual and, except for wind erosion, are not likely to happen often in the same area; and (4) are so expensive to repair that Federal help is or will be needed to return the land to productive agricultural use. (b) Repair or replacement of fencing and other emergency conservation measures. (1) In general. For a payment under subsection (a) to repair or replace fencing, or to take other emergency action to replace or restore farmland or conservation structures that need an immediate response as the Secretary decides, the Secretary must let the producer choose to receive the payment before doing the work. The payment is (A) 75 percent of the replacement cost, as the Secretary determines, for a replacement; or (B) 50 percent of the repair or restoration cost, as the Secretary determines, for a repair or restoration. (2) Return of funds. If the producer does not spend the funds within 180 days after receiving them, the producer must return them within a reasonable time set by the Secretary. (c) Wildfire determination. Damage from a wildfire qualifies under subsection (a) if the wildfire (1) was not naturally caused but spread because of natural causes; or (2) was caused by the Federal Government.