2015 Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program deadlines

Farm Service Agency reminds producers interested in participating in the 2015 Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) of the upcoming application deadline dates that must be met for NAP qualification. The NAP program is designed to cover losses caused by damaging weather conditions.

• December 1, 2014: Application closing date for 2015 honey.

• March 16, 2015: Application closing date for 2015 spring seeded crops and 2015 forage crops.

The 2014 Farm Bill expanded NAP to include buy-up protection for 2015. Details regarding the buy up coverage options are still being developed. Until these buy-up options are available, producers are encouraged to enroll in NAP under the basic coverage, 50 percent of the yield and 55 percent of the established price, by the applicable crop application deadlines. The NAP service fee for this coverage is $250 per crop per county not to exceed $750 per producer and not to exceed $1875 nationally.

A waiver of the basic service fees for NAP coverage is available for limited resource farmers (income determination based on total household income and income from farming), beginning farmers (someone is considered a beginning farmer if they have not operated or not substantially participated in the operation of a farm for more than 10 years) and socially disadvantaged (SDA) farmers (someone is considered socially disadvantaged if they are a member of a group whose members have been subject to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identities as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities). Females are considered SDA producers.

In addition, when available, the premiums for buy-up coverage will be reduced by 50 percent for limited resource, beginning farmers and SDA farmers.

Producers interested in NAP are encouraged to contact their local FSA office for additional information or to schedule an appointment to apply for coverage.