FSA issues guidance on SURE as program end nears

Authority for the Supplemental Revenue Assistance (SURE) program, authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill, will draw to a close Sept. 30, 2011. “Farm Service Agency (FSA) wants to ensure that all eligible producers are aware of the approaching deadline,” said John W. McCauley, FSA State Executive Director.
SURE was authorized to provide assistance to producers suffering crop losses because of disasters that take place on or before Sept. 30, 2011, if an eligible producer on a SURE farm (includes all crop acreage in all counties that a producer planted or intended to plant for harvest for normal commercial sale or farm livestock feeding) has a qualifying loss.
A qualifying loss is defined as a loss of 10 percent or more on at least one crop of economic significance (a crop that contributes at least five percent of the expected revenue for a producer’s SURE farm) because of disaster on a farm that is eigher:
• Located in a disaster county;
• If not located in any disaster county or county contiguous to such a county, but has an overall loss greater than or equal to 50 percent of normal production on the farm (expected revenue for all crops on the farm) because of disaster;
• A disaster county is a county for which a Secretarial disaster designation has been issued or a county contiguous to a county with a Secretarial disaster designation. The disaster designation must be effective for the crop year for which SURE payments are being applied.
As for 2011 and 2012-crop losses, when producers file applications for a SURE payment they are required to identify and certify the crop of economic significance on the SURE farm that suffered the 10 percent loss due to a disaster occurring on or before Sept. 30, 2011.
Note: Crops are not required to be harvested on or before Sept. 30, 2011, in order to be eligible for a SURE payment.
FSA offices will receive the planting and growing period, the related disaster event and any other pertinent information that could be relevant to the situation.
County FSA offices are also directed to make sure that the economically significant crop with a 10 percent qualifying loss before or on Sept. 30, 2011 meets the following:
• For insured crops, the insurance policy defines the coverage period as beginning on or before Sept. 30, 2011;
• For NAP crops, the coverage period begins on or before Sept. 30, 2011;
• The final planting date according to RMA and FSA (NAP crops only) occur on or before Sept. 30, 2011.
FSA must be able to determine any SURE claim filed by producers was indeed due to a disaster occurring on or before Sept. 30, 2011. That’s what will determine that a qualifying loss has triggered eligibility for SURE on either a 2011 or 2012 crop.
Producers can contact their local FSA Service Center at 103 Rodgers Park Dr., 234-2646 or more information.