Farmers can pay fee, be eligible for '08 disaster aid

May 4, 2009      The Commercial Appeal

William C. Bayne

May 4, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- DeSoto County producers who did not obtain crop insurance or noninsured crop disaster assistance for 2008 can pay a buy-in fee through May 18 to become eligible for 2008 disaster assistance.

The buy-in fees are authorized by the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008.

Darryl Waller, executive director of Farm Service Agency offices in DeSoto and Tate counties, said if farmers have not already taken steps to become eligible for the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program, the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish and the Tree Assistance Program, they are required to complete the following steps by May 18:

Pay a $100 buy-in per crop. The maximum buy-in is $300 per county, per producer, not to exceed $900 for multi-county producers.

In the case of each insurable crop, excluding grazing land, agree to obtain a policy or plan of insurance for the next insurance year.

In the case of non-insurable crops, agree to file the required paperwork and pay the applicable administrative coverage fee by the closing date for the next available year.

Coverage limits equal 70 percent or more of the yield at 100 percent of the price.

Producers who meet the definition of socially disadvantaged, limited resource or beginning farmer or rancher are not required to pay the buy-in fee.

For more information, contact the Farm Service Agency at (662) 429-8687, Ext. 2.

-- William C. Bayne: (662) 996-1408

Newstex ID: 34627106

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