STAR Fund

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STAR Fund - Helping Texas Farmers and Ranchers Recover from Disaster

Background

Many of our fellow Texans are in need of a helping hand. Texas Agriculture Farmers, Rancher, producers and agribusiness owners are rebuilding and working towards picking up the pieces after all of these natural disasters. As natural disasters continue to impact Texas farmers and ranchers, the need for donations continues.

The Fund

The STAR Fund (State of Texas Agriculture Relief Fund) was created solely with monetary donations from private individuals and companies. STAR Fund money may be used to assist farmers and ranchers in rebuilding fences, restoring operations and paying for other agricultural disaster relief. If you’d like to help folks impacted by the wildfire, floods or tornadoes, consider making a donation to the State of Texas Agriculture Relief, or STAR Fund.

Assistance

We are Texans, and when disaster strikes, we rise up to help our neighbors. The STAR Fund is one way to do that. TDA is offering a cost share (50% of eligible expense) to qualified agricultural producers not to exceed $4,000 per applicant. Example: A producer would need to submit documentation for $2,000 of eligible expenses to receive $1,000 in reimbursement. STAR Fund money may be used to assist farmers and ranchers in rebuilding fences, restoring operations and paying for other agricultural disaster relief costs needed to rebuild their producer operations. If the applicants county is listed the Texas Governor’s declaration of disaster, they have 90 days from the date of his proclamation to turn in an application. “Every day, we depend on farmers and ranchers to provide our families with the healthy food and warm clothes that sustains our lives, and now is the time for Texas producers to lean on us,” Commissioner Miller said. “This is not a hand out, rather it’s a helping hand. I hope people will take advantage of these funds if you need them.” Funds are not intended to compensate individuals or businesses for losses incurred, but to assist agriculture producers in cost-sharing some of the unexpected expenses associated with the repair or replacement of items necessary for their agricultural operation. See the application for more information.

Eligibility

Texas Agriculture Farmers, Rancher, producers and agribusiness owners will be required to complete an application and present such information as copies of invoices, proof of payment and proof agricultural loss specifically attributed to the specific natural disaster identified by the Texas Governors Disaster Declaration, property identification number, and other records needed by the department to determine eligibility.

Agriculture business means - a business that is or proposes to be engaged in producing, processing, marketing, or exporting an agricultural product

Agricultural product means - an agricultural, horticultural, viticultural, or vegetable product, bees, honey, fish or other seafood, planting seed, livestock, a livestock product, a forestry product, poultry, or a poultry product.

Funding Assistance Contact information

Mary Davison - Primary Contact
Grant Specialist
(512) 463-9932

STARFund@TexasAgriculture.gov

Donations

To make a donation via check please send it to the

following address:

STAR Fund
Texas Department of Agriculture
1700 North Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas 78701

To Donate by PayPal

Under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and Texas Agriculture Code, TDA is eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions, gifts, grants and donations.

100% of the donations collected will be distributed to those who incurred losses related to natural disasters.

“Every day, we depend on farmers and ranchers to provide our families with the healthy food and warm clothes that sustains our lives, and now is the time for Texas producers to lean on us. This is not a hand out, rather it’s a helping hand. I hope my fellow farmers and rancher will take advantage of these funds if you need them.”

- Commissioner Sid Miller

Current Disaster Declarations

CLOSED
August 23, 2017, Disaster Declaration revised 9/14/2017
Applications deadline for the following counties:
Due Date Wednesday, January 17, 2018 by 5:00 PM central time.

Other Resources

SBA - Disaster Loan Assistance
FSA - Disaster Assistance Program