USDA Posts Disaster Aid Details on Web Site

December 28, 1999

USDA has posted a one-page fact sheet on the crop disaster program approved by Congress as part of the appropriations process earlier this year. Sign-up for the aid began Dec. 13 and ends Feb. 25. Producers are urged to find more information at local Farm Service Agency offices or USDA Service Centers.

Farmers are eligible for assistance for 1999 crop losses that can be attributed directly to adverse weather and related conditions. All crops are covered -- insured, uninsured and noninsurable crops. Farmers will be compensated if their losses exceed 35% of historic yields.

Producers with eligible losses on insured crops will be compensated at 65% of crop insurance market price elections; farmers with eligible losses to uninsured crops will be compensated at 60% of the crop insurance market price elections.

Those farmers with eligible losses to noninsurable crops will be compensated at 65% of the five-year average National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) price. Noninsured crop disaster assistance program (NAP) area loss triggers do not apply.

Historic yields will be based on the higher of the five-year NASS county average yield, or the crop insurance actual production history yield or the NAP-approved yield.

Advance payments will be made when a complete application is approved. The advance payment will be 35% of the projected payments. Payments will be prorated after all applications are reviewed to stay within the program's requirements and budget. Benefits cannot exceed $80,000 per person, and no one with an annual gross income of $2.5 million or more in the 1998 tax year is eligible.

Any producer who elected not to purchase crop insurance on a 1999 crop and requests benefits for 1999 losses must insure that crop for the 2000 and 2001 crop years.

The Internet address for the fact sheet is http://www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/publications/facts/cdp.pdf.