Staying afloat

May 13, 2009      Agweek

Matt Bewley

May 12, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Recovery will take plenty of grit and a healthy dose of elbow grease for those hit the hardest by the harsh winter and widespread flooding in the Northern Plains. But there are programs, some of them newly inserted into the farm bill, to help with the economic side of things.

Terry Miller, director of the county FSA office in Grand Forks, N.D., describes what is available to producers.

The main FSA program is the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments, or SURE, program. It was built into the new farm bill.

"That's the primary disaster program where people would be reimbursed for losses due to hail, drought, and things like that," he says.

The SURE program was designed primarily for crop losses.

"We're going to be running it for the 2008 program year," he says.

"We'll probably be running it sometime this summer or fall."

There is a linkage requirement. For producers to qualify, they have to obtain crop insurance or a noninsured assistance program policy on all crops of economic significance.

"The problem with 2008 is the deadline to obtain crop insurance is past for 2008, and the deadline to obtain an NAP policy for 2008 is past as well," Miller says.

What do producers need to do if they did not obtain a crop insurance policy or a NAP policy is to complete a buy-in no later than May 18

"If producers are not certain, or if they are confused, the key is to check with their FSA office no later than May 18," he says. "That's probably the most important thing and the simplest thing that producers can do for the 2008 program year."

For 2009, Miller says there are very few crops that were affected by other than late or prevented planting.

The Livestock Indemnity Program also goes into effect for 2009. To qualify, producers need to contact their local FSA office.

"Basically, the program is intended to provide the monetary assistance for producers that have lost livestock due to adverse weather-related issues beyond their normal mortality," Miller says.

Accountability is important here.

"What I would encourage them to do is contact FSA to ensure that before they dispose of their livestock that they have good documentation so that when we do run this program, they'll be eligible for what may be due them," Miller says.

He says the FSA will accept affidavits from neighboring producers to verify carcass ownership in claims.

The LIP program will pay 75 percent of fair market value of the animals.

ELAP Funds also will be made available through the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program.

"We recently received notice on ELAP. That is a program that is basically implemented as needed for many different purposes," Miller says.

This program is brand new. Miller considers it to be a kind of a catch-all program.

"Not that it's going to cover every loss that someone might have, but it may cover grazing losses, feed losses, and even for bee loss from Colony Collapse Disorder.

But Miller warns that the eligibility criteria are very specific. The order reads: "These losses are examples of losses that may or may not be compensated under this program. A forthcoming regulation in the federal register will provide final determination."

Newstex ID: 34904474

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