|
Feb. 28 NAP sign-up, pay deadlineArkansas While row crop farmers are wrestling with crop insurance decisions, vegetable farmers, forage producers, Christmas tree farmers and aquaculture producers should be considering signing up for the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. Designed to protect producers of non-insurable crops, NAP also has a Feb. 28 sign-up deadline. "Not only must producers sign up by Feb. 28, they must also pay administrative fees by that date," says Dr. English, small farm project director at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Fees are $100 per crop, not to exceed $300 per producer per county, or $900 for a producer with farming interests in multiple counties. NAP is also linked to the Crop Disaster Program. Producers who did not have NAP did not qualify for the 2007 Crop Disaster Program. Small, limited resource and family farmers may qualify for a waiver of service fees, but small, limited resource, family farmer status varies from county to county. For example, a small, limited resource farmer in Jefferson County is one with gross sales of $116,800 or less and a total household income of $19,350. NAP is a voluntary program that provides financial assistance to producers of noninsurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory,or planting was prevented because of natural disasters. Natural disasters include drought, hail, frost, hurricanes or excessive moisture or wind. Eligible producers are compensated for losses exceeding 50 percent of their expected yield at 55 percent of the average market price. This coverage is similar to the Catastrophic Crop Insurance coverage. Crops with the Feb. 28 deadline include beets, cantaloupes, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, pumpkins, squash, sweet potatoes, watermelons and all varieties of spring and fall beans, turnip roots and peas. Eligible producers must apply for coverage using Form CCC-471 "Application for Coverage" and pay the service fees at their local Farm Service Agency office. An eligible producer is a landowner or tenant who shares in the risk of producing the crop. To remain eligible for NAP, producers must annually report the following: crop name, crop acreage and location, crop share, practice used (irrigated or non-irrigated), planting date, harvested production and use of crop (marketed, salvaged). "Failure to report acreage and production may result in reduced or zero NAP assistance," warns Dr. English. With what seems an early beginning to severe weather season and changing weather patterns, NAP can help reduce farming risks, says Dr. English. For more information on NAP or help in signing up, farmers can contact their local FSA office or an area UAPB Extension associate: --Arlanda Jacobs 870-572-2966, Lee, Phillips, St. Francis, Arkansas and Monroe counties; --Carolyn Prowell 870-489-5585, St. Francis, Crittenden, Woodruff and Cross counties; --Janet Breckenridge 870-489-2336, Chicot, Drew, Ashley and Desha counties; --Kandi Williams 870-774-0446, Howard, Little River, Miller, Hempstead and Lafayette counties; --Precious Williams 870-774-0446, Clark, Columbia, Nevada, Ouachita, Pike and Sevier counties; and --Stephan Walker 870-575-7237, Jefferson, Desha, Lincoln and Pulaski counties. Those elsewhere in the state can contact Dr. English at 870-575-7246. 2/25/08 Date: 2/21/08
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2012. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
|
