Compensation for Storm Related Crop and Tree Loss
From: Michael Lachance, July 6, 2012

Last week, <Michael> made an inquiry to the USDA Farm Service center about storm recovery capability.  Brent Whitlock from the Farm Service Agency in Richmond reported that those producers without crop insurance may be out of luck, as it is a requirement for receiving benefits from the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) Program, for losses from this year’s orchard production.

http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=diap&topic=sure

Similarly, people without crop insurance cannot access Tree Assistance Program (TAP) (1-TAP-31 C Rev. 3) to replace destroyed trees.

http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=diap&topic=tap

To be eligible for either SURE or TAP, orchard owners would have had to be signed on by September 30, 2011.

For growers with crop insurance, they will need to contact their agent.

Currently, TAP is gone as of October 1, 2011. However, it is in their best interest to document their tree losses with pictures and by someone who can testify to the loss, such as an arborist (like the veterinarian provision in LIP) just in case some new form of TAP comes out of the 2012 Farm Bill. This action should be done before they destroy the existing stand of apple trees.

Michael Lachance
VCE-Agriculture and Natural Resources
Nelson County Unit
8445 Thomas Nelson Highway
Lovingston, VA  22949
434 263 4035
FAX 434 263 4367
Lachance@vt.edu