For Immediate Release

September 14, 2011

Contact:

Ethel Truly 601-965-4300, ext.102

JACKSON, MISS. – Sept. 14, 2011 -- Mississippi's USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Michael R. Sullivan announced that legislative authority for the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program ends on September 30, 2011. Producers must meet specific eligibility requirements to receive SURE assistance for disasters affecting fall 2011 and 2012 crops that occur on or before September 30, 2011.

"The SURE program compensates producers for production and/or quality losses during times of disaster," said Sullivan.

Producers can apply for a 2011 or 2012 SURE payment when a crop of economic significance located in a primary or contiguous disaster county under a Secretarial Disaster Designation suffers at least a 10 percent loss because of a disaster occurring on or before September 30, 2011.

Crops are not required to be harvested on or before September 30, 2011, to maintain SURE eligibility. A loss claim will trigger only after FSA determines that the loss was caused by a disaster occurring on or before September 30, 2011. Losses that result from disasters after September 30, 2011, will not be eligible for SURE benefits.

Producers with 2011 and 2012 crops that suffer losses caused by disasters that occur on or before September 30, 2011, must also meet the following criteria:

• For insured crops, the insurance policy defines the coverage period as beginning on or before September 30, 2011.

• For Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) crops, the coverage period begins on or before September 30, 2011.

• For NAP crops, the final planting date according to RMA and FSA occurs on or before September 30, 2011.

Sullivan points out that, "If the crop is planted prior to September 30, 2011, but the final planting date is after September 30, 2011, 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, please contact your local county FSA office.

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