For Immediate Release
September 28, 2012
Contact:
Ethel Truly, Communications Coordinator
601-965-4300, ext.102
JACKSON, Miss., Sept. 28, 2012 - Michael R. Sullivan, Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Mississippi, announced today that the sign-up period for the 2011 crop year Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program will open Oct. 22, 2012. The SURE program is part of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill). Under the 2008 Farm Bill, SURE authorizes assistance to farmers and ranchers who suffered crop losses caused by natural disasters occurring through Sept. 30, 2011.
“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,” said Sullivan. “Farmers and ranchers interested in signing up must do so before the June 7, 2013 deadline.”
To be eligible for SURE, a farm or ranch must have:
- suffered at least a 10-percent production loss on a crop of economic significance;
- been covered with respect to all economically significant crops by a policy or plan of insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP);
- been physically located in a county that was the subject of a primary or contiguous disaster declaration by the Secretary of Agriculture under a Secretarial Disaster Designation.
In the absence of a Secretarial Disaster Designation, individual producers may be eligible if, because of a natural disaster, the actual production on the farm is less than 50 percent of the farm’s normal production. A “farm” for SURE purposes means the entirety of all crop acreage in all counties that a producer planted or intended to plant for harvest, for normal commercial sale or for on-farm livestock feeding, including native and improved grassland intended for haying.
A producer considered socially disadvantaged, a beginning farmer or rancher, or a limited resource farmer may be eligible for SURE without a policy or plan of insurance or NAP coverage.
As of Sept. 30, 2011, the FSA’s authority expired to operate the SURE program and four other, important disaster assistance programs: the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP); the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP); the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP); and the Tree Assistance Program (TAP). Production losses due to disasters occurring after Sept. 30, 2011, are not eligible for disaster program coverage.
For more information on the 2011 SURE program, visit any FSA county office or www.fsa.usda.gov/sure
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).