Farmers and ranchers who suffered crop losses caused by natural disasters affecting crops intended for harvest in 2012 are eligible to sign up for the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) recently announced the sign-up period, which provides one final eligibility period for farmers suffering crop losses caused by natural disasters occurring though Sept. 30, 2011.
A farm or ranch must meet certain criteria to be eligible, such as at least 10 percent production loss occurring on or before Sept. 30, 2011, according to an agency news release. Farmers who only plant fall seeded or spring seeded crops with a final planting date on Oct. 1, 2011 or later do not meet the eligibility criteria for the 2012 SURE program.
For more information on the eligibility criteria and how to apply for the 2012 SURE program, visit a USDA Service Center or online at www.fsa.usda.gov/sure. Those interested must sign up before the Aug. 29, 2014 deadline.