USDA announces disaster assistance sign-up for 2011 crop losses
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[October 13, 2012]
SPRINGFIELD -- Scherrie V. Giamanco,
state executive director for USDA Farm Service Agency in Illinois,
announced this week that producers can enroll beginning Oct. 22 in
the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments program for 2011 crop
year losses. Under the 2008 Farm Bill, SURE authorizes assistance to
farmers and ranchers who suffered crop losses caused by natural
disasters occurring through Sept. 30, 2011.
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"Eligible producers who experienced a 2011 crop loss can contact
their local county FSA office to learn more about the SURE program,"
said Giamanco. "All eligible farmers and ranchers must sign up for
2011 SURE benefits before the June 7, 2013, deadline," she said.
To qualify for a SURE payment, the producer's operation must be
located in a county that was declared a disaster for 2011 and have
at least a 10 percent production loss that affects one crop of
economic significance. Producers with agricultural operations
located outside a disaster county are eligible for SURE benefits if
they had a production loss greater than or equal to 50 percent of
the normal production on the farm.
In Illinois, 66 counties received a primary Secretarial Disaster
Designation, and 27 counties received a contiguous Secretarial
Disaster Designation during 2011. This means producers in 93
Illinois counties can qualify for SURE benefits as long as they have
at least a 10 percent production loss that affects one crop of
economic significance and all other eligibility requirements are
met. Producers in the remaining 9 Illinois counties are eligible for
SURE benefits if they had a production loss greater than or equal to
50 percent of the normal production on the farm.
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To meet program eligibility requirements, producers must have
obtained a policy or plan of insurance for all insurable crops
through the Federal Crop Insurance Corp. and obtained Noninsured
Crop Disaster Assistance Program coverage, known as NAP, if
available from FSA, on noninsurable crops. Eligible farmers and
ranchers who meet the definition of a socially disadvantaged,
limited resource, or beginning farmer or rancher do not have to meet
this requirement. Forage crops intended for grazing are not eligible
for SURE benefits.
For more information on SURE program eligibility requirements,
contact your local County FSA office or visit the website at
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/sure.
[Text from file received from
Illinois Farm Service Agency]
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