For Immediate Release

March 1, 2013

Contacts:

Donna Ferguson (317) 290-3315

Indianapolis, March 1, 2013 - Julia A. Wickard, State Executive Director of USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), reminds producers of the March 15 deadline to apply for coverage of non-insurable crops under the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). NAP provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory or prevented planting occur due to a natural disaster.

“NAP is an important program and provides the necessary protection for crops that may not be eligible for traditional crop insurance,” said Wickard. “FSA is proud to offer this program to American Agriculture.”

Eligible producers must apply for coverage of non-insurable crops using Form CCC-471, and pay the applicable service fee at the FSA office where their farm records are maintained. The application and service fee must be filed by March 15, the application closing date for spring seeded crops.

An eligible producer is a landowner, tenant or sharecropper who shares in the risk of producing an eligible crop and is entitled to an ownership share of that crop. As authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Act), an individual’s or entity’s average nonfarm adjusted gross income (AGI) limitation cannot exceed $500,000 to be eligible for NAP.

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.

Limited resource producers may request a waiver of the service fee. To qualify for an administrative service fee waiver, the producer must meet established criteria. For more information contact your local FSA office.