2008 SURE program deadline draws near

Thursday, September 23, 2010

INDIANAPOLIS -- Julia A. Wickard, Executive Director for USDA's Farm Service Agency in Indiana announced that producers have until Sept. 30 to apply for benefits on 2008 crop year disasters through their local FSA Office.

"It is imperative that producers take action now as there are no provisions for late-filed 2008 applications for the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program (SURE)," said Wickard.

Producers who carry crop insurance on all insurable crops and Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage on crops without insurance available should review their 2008 records to see if they might be eligible for SURE payments. One primary requirement of SURE was met in all counties in Indiana for 2008 -- that is every county was either declared a disaster by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture or is contiguous to a county that was declared a secretarial disaster.

"Our county office employees stand ready to assist producers. The Sept. 30 deadline is quickly approaching, so if producers believe they might have a qualifying 2008 loss, they should contact their local county FSA Office immediately," said Wickard.

The SURE program provides crop disaster assistance payments to eligible producers on whole farm operations that have suffered a revenue loss compared to expected overall revenue. The program takes into consideration crop losses on all crops grown by a producer in all counties and states.

SURE provides assistance in an amount equal to 60 percent of the difference between the SURE guarantee and a producer's total revenue. The producer's guarantee fluctuates depending on the amount and level of crop insurance and NAP coverage a producer carries.

Additional information regarding the SURE program is located at www.fsa.usda.gov/sure, or producers may contact their local county FSA office.

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