Natural Resources Disaster Relief Assistance Program (NRDRAP)

NRDRAP Overview

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) administers the Maine Natural Resources Disaster Relief Assistance Program (NRDRAP), which provides assistance to eligible producers impacted by severe weather in 2023 and 2024. This effort is supported by the federal Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2025 (Act).

Maine farmers, forestry businesses, and other eligible producers who experienced weather-related losses in 2023 or 2024 may be able to receive assistance through this program and are encouraged to apply.

NRDRAP is designed to help support recovery from eligible losses caused by severe weather, including the following:

• Crop loss;
• Aquaculture loss;
• Standing timber loss;
• Harvested timber loss;
• On-farm infrastructure loss; and
• Bare-ground practices necessary to mitigate land loss.

Key Highlights

• Maine has received $60 million in funding to distribute to Maine producers
• Eligible losses must not have been one that could have been covered by other existing USDA disaster programs, insurance payouts, or other relief programs
• Eligible applicants must have ownership or legal authority over the parcel(s) seeking assistance
• Before receiving payments, applicants will be asked to register as a vendor with the State of Maine
• Grant FAQ Handout (PDF)

Background on Disaster Funding

Specific agricultural disaster relief programs were established with $220 million allocated to the New England States, Alaska, and Hawaii. These block grants are intended to compensate producers for crop, timber, and livestock losses from weather events in 2023-2024. Maine successfully advocated for including compensation for infrastructure losses in its program, recognizing that these were among the most devastating losses resulting from weather events in 2023 and 2024.

Application Process

1. Review eligibility and loss requirements to gather a deeper understanding of the program and your potential eligibility.
2. Prepare for completing the application by gathering the following required documentation: +
• Ownership or lease documentation, or a notarized letter from the owner conveying right to manage the land to the applicant in 2023/2024 may be accepted
• Tax map and lot number
• FSA Farm Number, if applicable
• Tax ID or business identification information
• Documentation of weather-related damage/impacts from 2023 and/or 2024
• Schedule F records for crop loss, if applicable
• Receipts, invoices, estimates, or insurance information for infrastructure losses, if applicable

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3. Submit your application through the online portal.
4. Eligibility Review +
1. DACF program staff will review your application for basic eligibility requirements
2. If additional information is needed, your reviewer will contact you

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5. For timber assistance ONLY: Additional Information Needed +
1. If you are applying for assistance with standing or harvested timber losses, your eligibility reviewer will provide additional forms requiring completion.
2. You will be required to hire a licensed forester to complete these forms.
3. Please keep copies of your paid invoices for the forester’s services as they are eligible for reimbursement.

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6. Loss Calculation +
1. Once your eligibility has been determined, reviewers will determine your eligible loss.
2. Your eligible loss is what will be used to calculate your compensation from NRDRAP.

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7. Preliminary Eligible Loss Notification +
1. Once your Loss Calculation is determined, you will receive a notification of your preliminary eligible loss
2. You will be invited to seek additional information regarding your loss determination
3. Please note: this preliminary decision letter does not represent a final decision by the Department.  

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8. Final Eligible Loss Determination +
1. Upon a final review, the Department will issue a Final Decision Letter detailing your determined eligible loss
2. Applicants will be eligible for a single payment that shall not exceed 95% of their eligible loss.

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9. Final Payment Notification +
1. Upon the closure of the application in November, the Department will determine the payment factor (up to 95% but to be determined based on the total amount of requested loss coverage received by DACF from all eligible applicants and the total $60M program funding available) to apply to applicant's eligible loss calculation, resulting in the final payment amount remitted to applicants

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10. Payment Processing +
1. Payments will be remitted to the applicant on file.
2. Payments made under NRDRAP are considered taxable income and must be reported on your taxes.

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11. Record maintenance +
1. Applicants must maintain financial and other records related to this program for three (3) years, as required by the US Department of Agriculture  

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