Nebraska Recovery Roundup
When wildfire(s) happens, producers face many obstacles and challenges. Recovery often focuses on the physical damage done to fences, facilities, livestock, and pasture, but financial recovery is equally important. Recordkeeping is a tool that supports insurance claims, disaster assistance applications, and future business decisions.
Maintaining records, whether that’s receipts or photo documentation, is important when documenting things like damaged infrastructure, livestock losses, emergency feed purchases, and repair and replacement costs. It is important to save receipts, invoices, photographs, and written notes. Organized records can simplify insurance claims and disaster assistance applications.
Financial records can also serve as a guide to recovery decisions. By reviewing cash flow statements, balance sheets, and income statements, producers can assess financial impacts, prioritize what should be rebuilt, communicate with FSA, NRCS, and lenders, and evaluate financial needs for the future. Recovery can often take several years, so financial monitoring during recovery is important.
Recovery requires both physical and financial rebuilding. Good records can help producers assess resources, make informed decisions, and monitor progress throughout the recovery process.
Nebraska Recovery Roundup is a recurring series from the Center for Agricultural Profitability and Nebraska Extension offering timely, research-based information for producers and communities working through wildfire recovery. Each new article points you toward specific resources and practical next steps, whatever stage of recovery you're in.
Additional resources:
https://cap.unl.edu/smartmoney/ (webinar recordings)
