The sign-up period for the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program for the 2011 crop year begins Oct. 22, 2012, according to Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Juan Garcia. The sign-up period ends June 7, 2013.
“Any eligible producer who suffered losses during the 2011 crop year is encouraged to visit a local FSA office to learn more about the SURE program and how to apply,” Garcia said.
The SURE program provides financial assistance to farmers and ranchers who suffered crop losses from natural disasters occurring through Sept. 30, 2011. After that date, the SURE program was not continued. Crop losses after that date are ineligible for program coverage.
To qualify for assistance through the SURE program, a farm or ranch must have:
1. At least a 10 percent production loss on a crop of economic significance;
2. A policy or plan of insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) for all economically significant crops;
3. Been physically located in a county that was declared a primary disaster county or contiguous county by the Secretary of Agriculture under a Secretarial Disaster Designation. Without a Secretarial Disaster Designation, individual producers may be eligible if the actual production on the farm is less than 50 percent of the normal production on the farm due to a natural disaster.
For more information, visit your local FSA office or www.fsa.usda.gov/sure.