Livestock Operator Fire and Flood Assistance Program 2026-1

The Livestock Operator Fire and Flood Assistance Program 2026-1 is administered by the Arizona Department of Agriculture through its Agricultural Consultation and Training division. This program is funded by the Livestock Operator Fire and Flood Assistance Fund, established under Arizona Revised Statutes § 3-109.03. The legislature has appropriated a total of $10,000,000 to this fund, of which $9,500,000 is available for grant awards in fiscal year 2026. The program is designed to provide financial assistance to landowners and lessees of livestock operations whose infrastructure has been damaged due to a wildfire or flooding caused by a wildfire. This funding helps operators reconstruct essential infrastructure needed to continue their operations when other federal or state programs cannot fully meet the costs. The program’s purpose is to support Arizona livestock operators by covering up to 50% of eligible infrastructure project costs, with a maximum grant award of $250,000 for damage resulting from a single wildfire or its associated flooding. Eligible expenses are strictly limited to reconstruction and repair of infrastructure necessary for ongoing livestock operations. The grant is intended to bridge funding gaps where applicants are ineligible for, or only partially supported by, other assistance programs, such as federal disaster relief, USDA programs, charitable organizations, or insurance payouts. A consent form for sharing information with other funding agencies is required to confirm funding levels from alternative sources. Only one application per applicant is permitted for each grant cycle. To be eligible, applicants must be livestock operation landowners or lessees who own more than forty animals, as defined in the program manual, and whose livestock operation infrastructure was damaged by wildfire or related flooding. Applicants must require assistance for infrastructure repair to sustain the operation and must not be fully funded for these repairs by other programs. All eligibility details are outlined in the program’s manual, which also contains the necessary forms, instructions, and guidance on preparing an application. Applications for the 2026-1 cycle open on September 1, 2025, and close on September 26, 2025. All applications must be submitted online through the Arizona Department of Agriculture’s application portal. The application manual provides section-by-section guidance: Section I outlines the granting process, Section II explains the application completion steps, Section III describes the award and agreement process, Section IV contains application forms, and Section V provides appendices with supplementary information. Multiple grants may be awarded, though no more than half of the available funds may be allocated to infrastructure projects in any one county in a single fiscal year. The program does not require a match from applicants, but because the grant only covers up to 50% of total eligible project costs, applicants must secure the remaining costs through their own resources or other funding sources. Potential sources of additional funding include federal disaster declarations, USDA programs, FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance, and private or nonprofit support. The funding limits and county allocation caps ensure equitable distribution of funds across the state. The program is managed by Marty Suter, the primary point of contact for applicants. Inquiries can be directed to the Arizona Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Consultation and Training division, at 1110 W. Washington Street, Suite 450, Phoenix, AZ 85007, with mailing address 1802 W. Jackson Street #78, Phoenix, AZ 85007. Marty Suter can be reached via email at msuter@azda.gov or by phone at (602) 396-8365. Prospective applicants should review the manual thoroughly before preparing their submissions to ensure compliance with program rules and to strengthen the quality of their application.

Review the manual thoroughly before applying to ensure compliance and complete required documentation.