WARREN – Farm producers who otherwise would be ineligible for the new disaster assistance programs are invited to become eligible by paying a fee as required by the 2008 Farm Bill, according to David R. Lavway, state executive director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency in Maine.

The 2008 Farm Bill requires producers to have crop insurance or noninsured crop disaster assistance coverage for the land for which assistance is being requested, and for all farms in all counties in which they have an interest.

Since the 2008 Farm Bill was enacted after the application periods had closed for those programs, producers who did not have such coverage could not comply. However, the Farm Bill authorizes a waiver that allows producers to pay a fee, called a “buy-in” fee, to be eligible for this new disaster assistance.

“I urge every producer whose crops, including grazing lands, are not fully covered by crop insurance or NAP to take advantage of this one-time opportunity,” Lavway said in a press release. “The buy-in fee is due no later than September 16, 2008, 90 days after the date of enactment, as required by the Farm Bill. If you miss this opportunity you will not be eligible for disaster assistance. I also want to remind producers that the payment of the applicable buy-in fee does not afford the producer crop insurance or NAP coverage; it only affords eligibility for the 2008 disaster programs.”

Producers who meet the definition of “socially disadvantaged, limited resource,” or “beginning farmer or rancher,” do not have to meet the risk management purchase requirement and do not have to pay the buy-in fee, according to the press release.

The buy-in fee for 2008 eligibility is $100 per crop or not more than $300 per producer per administrative county, or $900 total per producer for all counties less any previously paid fees.

Producers can contact their county administrative Farm Service Agency office to file the application for waiver and pay the applicable fees, and to learn about programs that assist with other specialty areas, such as livestock, trees, fish and honeybees.

Knox County’s Farm Service office can be reached at 273-2002, ext. 2; or at the office at 191 Camden Road, Warren. The programs also are explained at www.fsa.udsa.gov.