Farmers can apply to crop loss program

BELFAST – Farmers who suffered quantity losses to their crops in recent years can now enroll in the Crop Disaster Program 2005-2007, according to officials at Waldo County USDA Farm Service Agency.

Subject to final rules, the program provides benefits to farmers who suffered losses to the 2005-07 crops from natural disasters and related conditions so long as the actual crop lost was planted or prevented from being planted before Feb. 28, 2007.

Producers who incurred qualifying losses in 2005, 2006 or 2007 must choose only one year to receive benefits. Producers may apply for benefits for losses to multiple crops as long as the losses occurred in the same crop year. Only producers who obtained crop insurance coverage or coverage under the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program for the year of loss will be eligible for program benefits.

For information about disaster programs, visit http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.