Local brief — May 16

USDA, FSA announce 2012 crop loss sign-ups

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced sign-ups for 2012 crop losses under the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program started on Thursday and will continue through Aug. 29 in a press release.

The program, established by the 2008 Farm Bill, provides for one final period of eligibility for producers suffering crop losses caused by natural disasters occurring through Sept. 30, 2011, for crops intended for the 2012 harvest.

Some of the requirements farms and ranches must have to qualify are:

• The crops must have been intended for harvest in 2012.

• At least a 10 percent production loss on a crop of economic significance resulting from a disaster occurring on or before Sept. 30, 2011.

• Been physically located in a county that was declared a primary disaster county or contiguous county by the Secretary of Agriculture under a Secretarial Disaster Designation.

For more information on the program visit any USDA Service Center or online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/sure.

-Staff report