Rain, Cold Could Delay Crops; Officials Seek State, Federal Help

Check out this story from the Watertown Daily Times.

Go to https://www.nny360.com/communitynews/agriculture/officials-prepare-for-possible-crop-shortage-seek-state-and-federal/article_92d078a4-3f66-5bb9-9be6-a0cb1e2ac343.html

Deadline Extended to Nov. 13 for Obtaining or Modifying Levels through Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program

The deadline has been extended for producers to obtain or modify higher levels of coverage through the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program.

This program protects against poor forage crop quality due to drought or other natural disasters where the forage is intended for mechanical harvest. USDA NY Farm Service Agency Executive Director James Barber said the deadline is now Nov. 13.

“For some 2016 forage crops, the application deadline for NAP occurred before information became available to measure losses due to quality that could influence loss payments, so we extended the deadline so that producers have more time to decide what type of modified coverage works best for their operation,” said Barber.

The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program protects agricultural crops for which crop insurance is not available from losses due to natural disasters, such as drought, freeze, hail, excessive moisture, excessive wind or hurricanes. The program offers basic coverage at 55 percent of the average market price for crop losses exceeding 50 percent of expected production, and higher levels of coverage, up to 65 percent of expected production at 100 percent of the average market price. Higher coverage is not available on grazing crops.  

However, the extension does not afford producers the opportunity to purchase basic 50/55 NAP coverage.

Producers interested in adjusting their NAP coverage must submit the appropriate paperwork to their local FSA county office before the Nov. 13 deadline. To find your local USDA Service Center go to http://offices.usda.gov. For more details on the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/nap.

Monday Deadline to Purchase Crop Disaster Coverage

From the Farm Service Agency:

Producers have until Monday, March 16, to purchase coverage through the Noninsurable Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). 

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

“Purchasing a crop insurance policy is an easy way for producers to mitigate risk,” said James Barber, state director of the Farm Service Agency. “The past few years have shown that natural disasters can severely impact an otherwise successful operation.”

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 provides catastrophic level  coverage based on the amount of loss that exceeds 50 percent of expected production at 55 percent of the average market price. 

The 2014 Farm Bill authorizes additional coverage levels ranging from 50 percent to 65 percent of production, in 5 percent increments, at 100 percent of the average market price. 

Additional, or “buy-up” coverage must be elected by a producer by the application closing date. Producers who elect additional coverage must pay a premium in addition to the service fee. Crops intended for grazing are not eligible for additional coverage.

Producers must file the application and service fee by the March 16 deadline. The service fee for NAP 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.

The 2015 NAP application deadline date for the 2015 coverage is March 16 for Spring Seeded Crops (artichokes, beans, broccoflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, buckwheat, cabbage, calaloo, canary melon, cantaloupe, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, sweet corn, crenshaw melons, cucumbers, eggplant, gourds, honeydew, hops, Jerusalem artichokes, kohlrabi, Korean golden melon, millet, okra, parsnips, peas, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, rutabaga, safflower, sesame, sorghum forage, soybeans, squash, sunflowers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, tomatillos, watermelon, yams).

For more information on sales closing dates and NAP, contact your local FSA office: http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=ny&agency=fsa