Saturday is the deadline for local producers to purchase coverage through the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, according to a news release from the Etowah/St. Clair County Farm Service Agency.

NAP provides financial assistance to producers of noninsurable crops when low yields/grazing loss, loss of inventory or prevented planting occur because of natural disasters including drought, freeze, hail, excessive moisture, excessive wind or hurricanes.

The Agricultural Act of 2014 allows producers to choose higher levels of NAP coverage. Previously, the program offered coverage at 55 percent of the average market price for crop losses that exceeded 50 percent. Eligible producers can apply for coverage using form CCC-471, Application for Coverage. Producers must file the application and pay a service fee by Saturday’s deadline. The service fee is the lesser of $250 per crop or $750 per producer per administrative county, not to exceed a total of $1,875 for a producer with farming interests in multiple counties.

Limited resource and traditionally underserved farmers may request a waiver of the service fee and a 50 percent premium reduction when the application for coverage is filed.

Deadlines also are approaching for other safety net programs established by the farm bill — Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage.

Friday is the final day to update yield history or reallocate base acres, and the final day for farm owners and producers to choose coverage is March 31.

Source - http://www.gadsdentimes.com/