Buy-in available for 2008

By Doug Niemeir

U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency County Executive Director

County producers and our office staff have been making good progress in getting acreage reports taken over the past few weeks. The deadline this year is Aug. 15. These reports are needed for most USDA program participation including the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the Direct and Counter-cyclical Program (DCP). Those who have not filed all complete reports should make arrangements to do so by the deadline. Appointments are not required, but are encouraged to avoid possible waiting in line. Call (620)223-1880 for scheduling. On another topic: When the new farm bill was passed late this spring, it included a provision for Supplemental Disaster Assistance Programs. These include permanent supplemental disaster coverage for most farm products.

The Act created five new disaster programs, collectively referred to as the Supplemental Disaster Assistance Programs, including:

* Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised fish (ELAP)

* Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP)

* Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP)

* Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program (SURE)

* Tree Assistance Program (TAP)

To be eligible for these programs, producers must purchase at least catastrophic risk protection (CAT) level of crop insurance for ALL insurable crops and/or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage for ALL non-insurable crops.

Because the deadline to purchase CAT or NAP coverage for 2008 crops passed prior to the enactment of the farm bill, producers who were eligible to purchase 2008 crop insurance or NAP but did not, can 'buy-in' to be eligible to participate in the 2008 disaster programs by paying an administrative fee.

The buy-in fee must be paid at the administrative FSA county office by Sept. 16, 2008. The buy-in fees do not provide any CAT or NAP coverage, but provides eligibility to participate in the 2008 disaster programs. All crop acreage in all counties that is planted or intended to be planted for harvest must be covered.To become eligible for 2008 disaster programs, producers must fill out a CCC-752 for insurable crops and a CCC-753 for noninsurable crops and pay applicable buy-in fees. For CAT and NAP the fees are $100 per crop, but not more than $300 per producer per county, or $900 total per producer, for all counties, less any previously paid fees for CAT or NAP. These fees and limits apply separately for CAT and NAP. Producers who meet the definition of a Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, or Beginning Farmer or Rancher are not required to pay the buy-in fee. Contact your administrative FSA county office to determine if you meet one of those definitions.

For 2009 disaster program eligibility, buy-in fees are not authorized. Producers must purchase crop insurance and NAP coverage on all commodities to be eligible for 2009 disaster programs.

* SURE, TAP and ELAP - must timely obtain crop insurance for each insurable commodity and NAP for each noninsurable commodity on all crop acreage in all counties.

* LFP - must timely obtain crop insurance for insurable commodities or timely obtain NAP on grazed land.

* LIP - is exempt and does not require CAT or NAP coverage for eligibility. Check with your local crop insurance agent for the 2009 crop insurance closing dates. For 2009 NAP coverage, the application closing dates for Kansas are:

* Sept. 1, 2008 - aquaculture, barley, canola, Christmas trees, nursery crops, rye, spelts, triticale, turf grass sod, and wheat.

* Dec. 1, 2008 - all grasses, alfalfa, apricots, asparagus, blueberries, caneberries, cherries, clover, grapes, lespedeza, honey, mixed forage, nectarines, oats, peaches, plums, strawberries, and vetch.

* Jan. 1, 2009 - apples and pears.

* March 15, 2009 - coarse grains, vegetable and melon crops, amaranth, chestnuts, cotton, pecans, pumpkins, safflower, sesame, squash, and walnuts.

Producers are encouraged to pay the buy-in fees by Sept. 16, 2008 to be eligible for 2008 disaster programs and purchase 2009 crop insurance and 2009 NAP coverage by the applicable closing dates to be eligible for 2009 disaster programs. Contact your local FSA county office for additional information. Informational sessions are being

planned for discussion of this disaster coverage around the end of the month. Watch this column for the announcement of times and dates.

USDA is an equal opportunity employer and provider.