WASHINGTON, May 5, 2014 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that sign-up begins today for 2012 crop losses under the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program. The program, established by the 2008 Farm Bill, provides for one final period of eligibility for producers suffering crop losses caused by natural disasters occurring through Sept. 30, 2011, for crops intended for 2012 harvest.
“Most producers who suffered losses before Sept. 30, 2011, have already been compensated if they applied for SURE benefits for the 2011 crop year,” said FSA Administrator Juan M. Garcia. “This sign-up period is only for those producers who suffered crop losses for 2012 crops before Sept. 30, 2011.”
To be eligible for SURE, a farm or ranch must have:
At least a 10 percent production loss on a crop of economic significance resulting from a disaster occurring on or before Sept. 30, 2011. A crop of economic significance contributes at least 5 percent of the expected revenue for a producer’s farm.
The crop must be considered a 2012 crop, which means, in general, that the crop was intended for harvest in 2012. For insured crops, the coverage period must have begun on or before Sept. 30, 2011. For crops covered by the Non-Insured Crop Assistance Program, the coverage period must have begun on or before Sept. 30, 2011. The final planting date, according to the specific coverage for the crop, must have been on or before Sept. 30, 2011.
A number of other sign up conditions may be found here.
Producers considered socially disadvantaged, a beginning farmer or rancher, or a limited resource farmer may be eligible for SURE without a policy or plan of insurance or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program coverage.
Farmers and ranchers interested in signing up must do so before the Aug. 29, 2014 deadline.
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