Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Agency Announces Disaster Program

Farm Service Agency has announced a crop disaster program (CDP). Congress has appropriated $1.2 billion for CDP to offset 1999 losses due to natural disasters.

Sign up continues until February 25 and will cover losses to commercially grown crops, including hay and fruits and vegetables. The program will work much the same as 1998 program for single year losses.

Eligible producers must have at least a 35% loss for insured crops and non-insured crops, such as hay or a 40% loss for uninsured crops.

Disaster yields and payment rates are exactly the same as the 1998 program.

Payments are limited to $80,000 per person.

After losses are approved, advanced payments of 35% of the projected calculated payment may be requested. The total payment will be factored, based on the applications approved and the money available. If the factor is less than the 35%, some monies may require to be refunded.

$475 million has been allocated for 1999 oilseed crops, which include soybeans. This will be a direct payment to soybean producers. This oilseed program is different from the disaster program.

For information on this program, contact the Clark County FSA office at 246-9816.