Horse farm owners should be aware that disaster assistance is available from several government organizations. The Farm Service Agency, or FSA, has several long-running programs intended to help all agricultural producers after natural disasters. All counties in NJ have been declared disaster areas, so all farms are eligible.
Livestock Indemnity Program - makes payments for animal losses if the deaths occurred as a direct result of the disaster. Show or pleasure horses would not be included in this program, but breeding farms should contact FSA if they had any losses.
Emergency Conservation Program - provides emergency funding and technical assistance to rehabilitate eligible farmland damaged by natural disasters.
FSA also offers Emergency Farm Loans to help restore or replace essential property, pay production costs associated with the disaster year, pay essential family living expenses, reorganize the farming operation, and refinance certain debts. FSA offices are located throughout the state; find your closest location at http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=nj&agency=fsa.