For Immediate Release

October 11, 2011

Contact:

Ethel Truly 601-965-4300, ext.102

(Jackson, Miss) – October 25, 2011 - USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Michael R. Sullivan today announced that the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program enrollment for 2010 crop year losses will begin November 14, 2011.

"Producers across the state experienced several natural disasters during the 2010 crop year that caused hardship and financial losses to many agricultural operations," said Sullivan. "The SURE program provides assistance to producers when disaster strikes, so I strongly encourage producers with 2010 crop losses to contact their FSA county office to learn more about the program," he said.

To qualify for a SURE payment, a producer's operation must be located in a county that was declared a disaster for 2010 and have at least a 10 percent production loss for one crop of economic significance. Producers with agricultural operations located outside a disaster county are eligible for SURE benefits if they had a production loss greater or equal to 50 percent of normal production on the farm.

Every county in Mississippi received a disaster designation during 2010.

To meet program eligibility requirements, producers must have obtained a policy or plan of insurance for all insurable crops through the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and obtained Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage on non-insurable crops, if available, from FSA. Eligible farmers and ranchers who meet the definition of a socially disadvantaged, limited resource or beginning farmer or rancher do not have to meet this requirement. Forage crops intended for grazing are not eligible for SURE benefits.

For more information on SURE program eligibility requirements, contact the FSA county office or visit the website at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/sure.