Daviess County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Kirby Payne recently announced that legislative authority for the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program ends on Sept. 30.
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Producers must meet specific eligibility requirements to receive SURE assistance for disasters that occur on or before Sept. 30, and affect fall 2011 and 2012 crops.
"The SURE program compensates Daviess County producers for production and quality losses during times of disaster," said Payne.
Daviess County producers can apply for a 2011 or 2012 SURE payment if a crop of economic significance in a primary or contiguous disaster county under a Secretarial Disaster Designation suffered at least a 10% loss because of a disaster occurring on or before Sept. 30.
Crops are not required to be harvested on or before Sept. 30 to maintain SURE eligibility. A loss claim will only trigger after FSA determines that the loss was from a disaster occurring on or before Sept. 30. Losses resulting from disasters occurring after Sept. 30 will not be eligible for SURE benefits.
Producers with 2011 and 2012 crop losses caused by disasters occurring on or before Sept. 30 must meet the following criteria:
• For insured crops, the insurance policy defines the coverage period as beginning on or before Sept. 30.
• For Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) crops, the coverage period begins on or before Sept. 30.
• The final planting date according to RMA and FSA (NAP crops only) occur on or before Sept. 30.
Payne points out that, "If the crop is planted prior to Sept. 30, but the final planting date is after Sept. 30, the crop will not be eligible for SURE benefits."
The sign-up period for 2011 and 2012 SURE will not begin until after the national average market prices are determined for each respective crop year, which is normally one year after the applicable crop year.
For questions regarding the SURE program, contact the Daviess County FSA office at 660-663-3703.