Natural Disaster Recovery Grant II Program

The Natural Disaster Recovery Grant II Program is administered by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources through the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The program is funded through a federal appropriation managed by the USDA Farm Service Agency and is intended to cover eligible losses not otherwise covered by existing Farm Service Agency programs. NDR2 is a non-competitive disaster recovery program designed to mitigate the financial effects of qualifying weather-related losses that occurred during 2023 or 2024 on Massachusetts agricultural operations. It supports recovery and continued agricultural production by providing partial compensation for documented eligible losses, subject to verification, program requirements, available funding, and possible proration. Eligible losses are limited to crop loss, future economic loss, infrastructure loss, timber loss, and bare-ground practices. Crop claims generally require at least a 15 percent crop value loss across all crops that experienced a loss. Future economic loss claims apply to eligible perennial and multi-year crops and require at least a 5 percent loss of total cultivated stock, with replacement or a commitment to replant by September 30, 2027. Eligible infrastructure includes qualifying on-farm buildings, above-ground irrigation, aquaculture infrastructure, on-farm roads, bridges and culverts, plasticulture, and maple infrastructure, subject to the applicable damage thresholds and repair or replacement requirements. Timber claims require qualifying private forest land, including a minimum 10-acre stand under the same ownership and at least 25 percent eligible tree damage or mortality, along with an approved forest management plan and an evaluation letter from a Massachusetts licensed forester. Bare-ground practices must have been completed by application and must relate to restoration of affected agricultural land. Eligible applicants must be Agricultural Businesses meeting the RFR definition of an Eligible Producer and must have experienced an Eligible Loss valued at least $2,500 because of one or more qualifying Weather Events. Agricultural Business includes a business, cooperative, nonprofit, municipal, Tribal, or other entity engaged in specified agricultural activities within Massachusetts. Eligible Producers may include qualifying U.S. citizens, resident aliens, partnerships, corporations, limited liability corporations or other farm organizational structures, and Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations. Applicants must demonstrate agricultural production during 2023 and/or 2024 for the year corresponding to the claimed loss and legal control of the affected property at the time of the event. Losses must have occurred in Massachusetts between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2024. Applicants must also comply with applicable federal, state, and local requirements and with applicable APR, produce registration, dairy registration, or other program requirements. There is no match requirement. Applicants may submit only one application. Applications must be completed through the online application system linked from the Natural Disaster Recovery Program II webpage and must include all properties for which eligible losses are claimed. Required information varies by loss category and can include applicant and operation information, property and lease information, loss details, weather event and loss dates, valuations, prior disaster or insurance payments, funds-use information, and supporting documentation. Supporting materials may include agricultural production records, IRS Schedule F or FSA records, sales records, photographs, insurance documentation, crop and production records, invoices, repair or replacement estimates, leases, and other records supporting the timing, cause, and value of a loss. Timber applicants must provide an approved forest management plan and the required Massachusetts licensed forester letter. Attachments must use accepted document or image formats, and submissions exceeding 50 MB will not be accepted. The program does not score, rank, or competitively compare applications. MDAR first conducts an eligibility and completeness review, may request clarification, and may conduct telephone, virtual, or on-site verification. Evaluation is limited to confirming applicant eligibility, verifying documentation of eligible losses, validating payment calculations, and ensuring compliance with program requirements and applicable state and federal law. MDAR may adjust calculated payments based on verified information, available funding, previous insurance or disaster recovery payments, and program requirements. Total assistance cannot exceed the documented eligible loss. Payment amounts may also be prorated based on total program demand and available funding, and MDAR may establish a maximum total payment per applicant. The RFR was released August 3, 2026. Questions were required by 4:00 PM on Friday, August 28, 2026, by email to ndr2@mass.gov. Applications must be received by 4:00 PM on Wednesday, September 30, 2026; late submissions, including those delayed by technical issues, will not be accepted. The estimated award date is February 2027. The effective contract start date depends on award, negotiation of the final scope of services, execution of the Standard Contract Form, required approvals, and any later date specified in the contract. All projects must be completed by September 30, 2027, which is also the maximum contract end date. Applicants selected for funding must complete applicable Commonwealth contracting documents, and recipients must retain relevant financial and program records for three years after completion of program payment distribution or until final resolution of applicable audit findings or litigation claims, whichever is later.

Submit documentation that directly establishes eligibility, cause, timing, extent, and value of every claimed loss. Confirm that each claimed category meets its applicable percentage, acreage, or dollar threshold. Disclose all prior insurance and disaster recovery payments because MDAR will verify duplication of benefits and deduct applicable payments. For future economic and infrastructure claims, document completed replacement or repair or commit to completion by September 30, 2027. Timber applicants should ensure both the approved forest management plan and detailed licensed forester letter are complete. Name and upload supporting files carefully, retain a complete copy of the submission, and allow extra time before the deadline because late applications caused by technical issues will not be accepted.