Farm payments that had been suspended to the federal sequestration resumed Wednesday, said officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency.
This includes payments for the 2011 Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program (SURE), the Noninsured Crop Assistance Program (NAP) and the Milk Income Loss Contract Program (MILC).
“I’m pleased to announce that farmers and ranchers can expect to begin receiving their payments beginning May 8,” said Administrator Juan Garcia. “We appreciate the producers’ patience during the delay. We’re working diligently to get these payments out as quickly as possible.”
On March 4, 2013, FSA began a temporary suspension of FSA program payments in order to assess the impact of sequestration and determine the least-disruptive process possible for carrying out required cuts.
The USDA will use the secretary’s limited authority to transfer funds to avoid reducing these program payments.
Producers should be advised that program sign-up periods currently underway have the following enrollment deadlines: 2013 Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) Program – June 3; 2011 SURE – June 7; and the 2013 Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program – Aug. 2.
Producers should contact their local Farm Service Agency office as soon as possible for appointments to enroll in these programs before the deadlines.
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