USDA reminds producers of application closing dates for noninsurable crops

USDA Farm Service (FSA) State Executive Director Scherrie Giamanco urges producers who want to purchase 2012 coverage through the Noninsurable Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) to do so before the applicable sales closing dates.

NAP provides financial assistance to producers of noninsurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory or prevented planting occur due to normal disasters.

"Purchasing a crop insurance policy is an easy way for producers to practice risk management," said Giamanco. "This year alone has proved that natural disasters can directly affect the profitability and recovery of agricultural operations," she said.

The following crops have a NAP application closing date of Aug. 31, 2011: canola.

The following Value Loss crops have a NAP application closing date of Sept. 1, 2011:  Christmas trees, aquaculture, turfgrass sod, floriculture, and mushrooms.

The following crops have a NAP application closing date of Sept. 30, 2011: forage and grazed crops (such as alfalfa, mixed forages, and grass), barley, and rye.

The following crops have a NAP application closing date of Nov. 20, 2011: fruit and perennial crops, such as apples, asparagus, blueberries, caneberries, grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, plums, rhubarb, and strawberries.

The following crops have a NAP application closing date of Dec. 1, 2011: honey.

The following crops have a NAP application closing date of March 15, 2012: spring and summer planted crops.

In order to meet eligibility requirements for NAP, crops must be noninsurable, commercially-produced agricultural commodity crops for which the catastrophic risk protection level of crop insurance is not available. If the Risk Management Agency (RMA) offers coverage for a crop in the county, then NAP coverage is not available for that crop.

In the event of a natural disaster, NAP covers the amount of loss greater than 50 of the expected production based on the approved yield and reported acreage.

Eligible producers can apply for coverage using form CCC-471, Application for Coverage. Producers must file the application and service fee by the application deadline. The service fee is the lesser of $250 per crop or $750 per producer per administrative county, not to exceed a total of $1,875 for a producer with farming interests in multiple counties.

For more information on sales closing dates and NAP, contact your local County FSA office.