Getting ready for NAP

Dec. 3--FSA administers two programs that have specific safety net benefits for producers of honeybees and honey. The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) assist producers when disasters impact honey production or damage or destroy colonies, hives or honeybee feed.

NAP is designed to reduce financial losses when natural disasters result in lower yields or crop losses, including honey. NAP coverage is equivalent to catastrophic insurance, meaning it covers up to 50 percent of a producer's normal yield (must have at least a 50 percent loss) at 55 percent of the average market price. The 2018 Farm Bill reinstates higher levels of coverage, from 50 percent to 65 percent of expected production in 5 percent increments, at 100 percent of the average market price. Producers of organics and crops marketed directly to consumers also may exercise the "buy-up" option to obtain NAP coverage of 100 percent of the average market price at the coverage levels of between 50 percent and 65 percent of expected production.

The NAP service fee is the lesser of $325 per crop or $825 per producer per administrative county, not to exceed a total of $1,950 for a producer with farming interests in multiple counties. Eligible causes of loss include drought, freeze, hail, excessive moisture, excessive wind, hurricanes, earthquake, flood and conditions related to damaging weather such as excessive heat, plant disease, volcanic smog or insect infestation.

Producers must apply for NAP coverage by Nov. 20 prior to the year for which they are seeking coverage. ELAP covers colony losses, hive losses and the loss of purchased feed intended for honeybees. For colony losses, producers must have losses in excess of normal mortality (normal mortality is 22 percent) as a direct result of an eligible adverse weather event or loss condition. For hive losses, the hive must have been damaged or destroyed as a result of an eligible adverse weather event or loss condition. Eligible adverse weather or loss conditions include Colony Collapse Disorder (for colony losses only), earthquake, eligible winter storm (colony loss only), excessive wind, flood, hurricane, lighting, tornado, volcanic eruption and wildfire.

For purchased feed, the program covers feed purchased above normal quantities to sustain bees during an eligible adverse weather event or loss condition. Under ELAP the producer must provide documentation that best management practices are being followed. Both the NAP and ELAP programs require producers to report the number of colonies they have in production to FSA by Jan. 2, 2020. Honeybee producers must notify FSA within 30 calendar days of changes in the total number of colonies or when honeybees are moved to another county. For ELAP, producers must notify FSA within 30 calendar days of when a loss occurs or from when the loss is apparent. Producers with NAP coverage must file a Notice of Loss within 15 days of the occurrence of the disaster or when losses become apparent.

Ohio FSA, OSU Extension Service to host Farm Bill educational meetings

The Ohio State University Extension Service and FSA County offices are planning a series of 2018 Farm Bill education meetings across the state. All producers are invited to attend these informational meetings, which are designed to provide important information to assist producers as they begin to make farm-bill related program decisions. The 2018 Farm Bill, signed into law last December, reauthorized the existing Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) safety net programs that were in the 2014 Farm Bill; however, producers will need to make new program enrollment decisions over the coming months.

The meetings are scheduled from November to early February in advance of the coming ARC/PLC enrollment deadlines in 2020. There also are resources available online that can educate producers in their ARC/PLC decision-making process. Links to these resources are available from FSA at fsa.usda.gov/programsand-services/arcplc_program/index.

The following meetings have been scheduled:

n Dec 12 -- 6 p.m., EHOVE, 316 W. Mason Road

n Dec 19 -- 2 p.m., County Admin Building, 180 Milan Ave., Norwalk

n Jan 9 -- 10 a.m., County Admin Building, 180 Milan Ave., Norwalk

n Jan 23 -- 6 p.m., EHOVE, 316 W. Mason Road

n Jan 28 -- 10 a.m. -- County Admin Building, 180 Milan Ave., Norwalk

RSVP to the Huron/Erie County Office 419-668-4113.

Dates to remember

n Friday -- Deadline to sign up for the 2019 Market Facilitation Program (MFP).

n Dec. 13 -- Election period deadline for 2020 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program.

n Dec. 15 -- Deadline to report the 2020 Fall Seeded Crops for fall barley, fall wheat and all other fall-seeded small grains.

n Dec. 25 -- Christmas Day Holiday. FSA Offices Closed.

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