As Danny Munch, American Farm Bureau Federation Economist points out, this new ERP program is basically a revamped version of the old WHIP+ program and will provide six billion [dollars] in ad hoc disaster assistance for producers who experienced qualifying losses from severe weather events in 2020 and 2021. ERP includes losses from events like wildfires, hurricanes, flooding, freezes, derechos, and also drought under the D3 and D4 categories, as well as D2 after eight consecutive weeks. It also covers losses from related conditions that occurred concurrently to major disasters like smoke exposure during wildfires.

This is supposed to happen within the next few weeks. Producers will then have to return their completed and signed prefilled applications to their local FSA office and should expect to receive payments in June-July. Producers who did not have crop insurance or NAP coverage, did not receive an indemnity, or had an area-based policy, will not be sent a prefilled application.

Again, for those that qualify under phase one of ERP, they will be sent prefilled applications based on their existing FSA information. For those that don’t get a prefilled application, they unfortunately will have to wait for information on Phase Two of the program to be announced. Also, we have a few payment examples available on our Market Intel website for farmers to review and see how they might be able to benefit.

The post US Agricultural Department Releases New Recovery Program to Cover Natural Disaster Losses appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

Construction of the trail supports the conservation mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages the National Wildlife Refuge System — a network of 567 refuges across the U.S. that offer access to a host of popular activities while providing vital habitat for thousands of wildlife species.

“We are excited to partner with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on this project to demonstrate Volvo’s commitment to lowering emissions and working to build the future we all want and need,”

said Ray Gallant, VP of Product Management and Productivity, Volvo CE.

These are the first pieces of electric heavy equipment to be used on a project by a federal agency. This pilot helps the Service explore ways to minimize its own carbon footprint in natural areas and reduce the emissions produced while maintaining public lands. It also provides Volvo CE with valuable feedback on electric equipment performance.

The project supports the Biden-Harris administration’s America the Beautiful initiative to pursue a locally-led, and voluntary, nationwide effort to conserve, connect and restore the lands, waters, and wildlife upon which we all depend.

Work began Nov. 8 and is expected to take approximately two weeks to complete. Work is being done by a Service Maintenance Action Team that pulls skilled trade employees from various refuges for a short period.

Reducing Air and Noise Pollution

Projects like the one at the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge give a glimpse of how electric machines can create a more climate-friendly future for the construction industry.

The L25 Electric compact wheel loader is being used to haul and lay down gravel for a wheelchair-accessible half-mile trail around a pond and to clear brush. The ECR25 Electric compact excavator is digging trenches to improve drainage from the pond and helping to build a viewing platform over the pond.

The Volvo electric machines produce zero emissions and have significantly lower noise levels than diesel machines. These qualities are especially beneficial when working in a natural area like the refuge, which is home to a diverse array of grasslands, wetlands, and woods that attract red foxes, painted turtles, osprey, river otters, and countless other species.

The project also tested the portable EV ARC solar-powered charging system from Beam Global to further reduce fossil fuel involvement on the job site. Beam Global is a leader in electric vehicle charging and has partnered with Volvo CE on other projects.

The ECR25 and L25 Electric machines will be commercially available in the U.S. in early 2022. Learn more about our electric machines.

Source: Volvo CE

The post Volvo CE Electric Machines Used on Federal Nature Refuge Project appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.