Farm Service Agency Announces Deadline for Noninsured Assistance Program Coverage

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is currently accepting applications for NAP coverage.  NAP provides financial assistance to eligible producers affected by natural disasters.  This federally funded program covers noninsurable crop losses and planting prevented by disasters.  Eligible disasters are any of the following:  damaging weather such as drought, excessive moisture, or hurricane; an adverse natural occurrence such as earthquake or flood; a condition related to damaging weather or adverse natural occurrence such as excessive heat or insect infestation.  The natural disaster must occur before or during harvest and must directly affect the eligible crop.  Applicants must pay a nonrefundable administrative fee of $250 per crop, per county.  Fees are capped at $750 per county not to exceed $1875 for farmers with interest in multiple counties.  Losses must be greater than 50 percent of expected production and coverage must have been purchased 30 days prior to the coverage period.

The application closing dates for the following crops are: Aug. 15, 2010 for Cabbage and Cauliflower, Aug. 31, 2010 for Strawberries, Sept. 1, 2010 for Flowers, Christmas Trees, Mollusk, Finfish and Nursery, and Sept. 30, 2010 for Grass, hay or grazed, which includes: Centipede: Argentine: Bahia: Coastal Bermuda: Common Bermuda: and Clover.

Failed crops must be reported within 15 days after the disaster.

For further information on the NAP program, please contact the Calhoun-Franklin-Gulf-and Liberty County FSA Office at 17413 NW Leonard Street, Blountstown, FL   32424 or call 850-674-8388 or 1-800-243-9912 Ext. 6.