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2017 Hurricane Relief Emergency Conservation Program

Report Information

Date Issued
Report Number:
03702-0002-23
Report Type
Audit
Component
Farm Service Agency
Description
OIG reviewed FSA’s program delivery of ECP for the 2017 hurricane-related disasters.
Joint Report
No
Agency Wide
Yes (agency-wide)
Questioned Costs
$1,937,108
Funds for Better Use
$0

Recommendations

Develop and implement a standardized monitoring process to document district director concurrence when FSA grants relief to producers who started their practice before submitting an ECP application. The process should also include reporting to State officials.

Revise guidance to make provision to waive the prior approval rule when emergency procedures are authorized, when a producer does not submit the ECP application before starting the practice and files the ECP application after the end of the signup period.

Establish and implement monitoring procedures in guidance requiring State officials to ensure district directors complete reviews and evaluate the results of the reviews to ensure ECP policies are being followed.

Establish and implement procedures in guidance to define how the district director reviews should be documented.

Establish and implement monitoring procedures in guidance requiring State officials to ensure county executive directors complete spot checks and evaluate the results of the reviews.