The Farm Service Agency (FSA) a division of The United States Department of Agriculture,  will offer disaster assistance programs to producers via the Food, Conservation & Energy Act of  2008 (2008 Farm Bill). The new disaster programs beginning in 2008 are called the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE)program, Livestock Forage Disaster

Program (LFP), Tree Assistance Program (TAP), and the Emergency Assistance Livestock,  Honeybees & Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP). The 2008 Act requires producers who wish to  participate in the new disaster programs to have crop insurance or non-insured crop disaster assistance (NAP) coverage for the land for which assistance is being requested, and for all farms in all counties in which they have an interest. The 2008 Farm Bill was enacted on May 22, 2008  & this date was after the sales closing date for many of the crop insurance & NAP products which are required for compliance for the new disaster program, thus the 2008 act allows a buy-in waiver that allows producers to pay a fee for 2008 only which will make them eligible for the  2008 disaster programs. Any producer whose crops, including grazing lands, are not fully covered by crop insurance or NAP may take advantage of this one time opportunity. It is very important to note that this buy in fee does not provide linkage for 2008 crop insurance or 2008 NAP coverage, but does provide eligibility for the disaster assistance programs. Producers who do not enter into the buy in option for 2008 will not be eligible for the 2008 disaster programs.

The only exception to this requirement is for producers who meet the definition of "Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource or Beginning Farmer". These individuals will not be required to pay the buy in fee to be eligible for the disaster programs. The 2008 fee for eligibility only for Crop insurance CAT or NAP will be 5100 per crop but not more than $300 per producer per administrative county, or $900 per producer for all counties less any previously paid fees for NAP or CAT coverage. The applicable buy-in form must be completed and applicable fees paid by September 16, 2008. Payment of the applicable fees will allow producer eligibility for benefits for losses under the SURE, LFP, TAP or ELAP programs only. For more information please contact the Bradley/Polk FSA Office, but please not the 9/16/08 final date.