FSA Andy for Nov. 13, 2008

Hello again, friends!
The 2008 Farm Bill is bringing changes to our 2009 farm plans just as the changing weather is bringing changes to our final 2008 plans.

Disaster assistance

While preparing for the 2009 crop year, you might want to consider the issuance of disaster payments. The newly enacted legislation issues a fleet of disaster assistance programs for specialty crops, livestock, honeybee and farm-raised fish and program crop disasters.

The largest title covers program crops and is called the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program.

Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program payments can be triggered by either of these two events:

• A secretarial declaration in a disaster county, including contiguous counties.

• A producer suffers at least a 50 percent revenue loss because of weather.

Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program will:

• Pay up to $100,000 annually, including payments from all other disasters.

• Be available now through Sept. 30, 2011.

• Pay the amount equal to 60 percent of the difference of the Guarantee and the Total Farm Revenue.

To be eligible, you must have crop insurance or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program all crop acreage:

• In all counties and states.

Planted or intended to plant for harvest.

• Farm livestock feeding including native grassland intended for haying.

• Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program does not pay for losses on crops intended for grazing.

So what can you do to be eligible for Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program?

• Apply for crop insurance if you plant any insurable crops, such as corn and soybeans; and in some areas wheat, apples and grapes.

• Apply for Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program coverage on your noninsurable crops at your local Farm Service Agency Office.

Note that the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program deadline varies by crop. The following crops all have a Dec. 1 deadline: aquaculture, Christmas trees, floriculture, ginseng, mushrooms, ornamental nursery, turfgrass sod, watercress, rye, barley, speltz, asparagus, blueberries, caneberries, cherries, chestnuts, forage for hay and pasture, nectarines, peaches, pears, plums, strawberries, honey and maple sap; and where crop insurance is not available winter wheat, apples and grapes.

Deadlines

The deadline for Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program coverage for the following crops is March 15, 2009: forage sorghum, oats, potatoes, sunflowers and all spring planted specialty crops grown for food.
Review the above lists thoroughly to ensure you understand your Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program deadlines.

There is a Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program calculator available at your local Farm Service Agency office. This calculator is a tool that may help you determine if Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program is a program for you.

Contact your local Ohio Farm Service Agency or Pennsylvania Farm Service Agency for more information and remember the deadline of Dec. 1.

Have a great week!
FSA Andy