USDA reminds producers of upcoming NAP deadline

The USDA Farm Service Agency reminds producers to review available USDA crop risk protection options, including federal crop insurance and 2024 Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program coverage, before the crop deadline.

Federal crop insurance covers crop losses from natural adversities such as drought, hail and excessive moisture. NAP covers losses from natural disasters on crops for which no permanent federal crop insurance program is available, including perennial grass forage and grazing crops, fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, floriculture, ornamental nursery, aquaculture, turf grass, ginseng, honey, syrup, bioenergy and industrial crops.

Sage and strawberries have a NAP application deadline of Sept. 1. The following crops have an application deadline of Sept. 30: barley, canola, oats, rye, triticale, wheat, and value loss crops including aquaculture, Christmas trees, ginseng, turf grass sod, mushrooms, floriculture and strawberry rootstock. For all coverage levels, the NAP service fee is the lesser of $325 per crop or $825 per producer per county, not to exceed a total of $1, 950 for a producer with farming interests in multiple counties.

Beginning, limited resource and targeted underserved, and qualified veteran farmers or ranchers remain eligible for a waiver of NAP service fees and premium reduction when they file form CCC-860, Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource and Beginning Farmer or Rancher Certification. Producers can determine if crops are eligible for federal crop insurance or NAP by visiting webapp.rma.usda.gov/apps/actuarialinformationbrowser2017/CropCriteria.aspx.

NAP basic coverage is available at 55% of the average market price for crop losses that exceed 50% of expected production. Federal crop insurance coverage is sold and delivered solely through private insurance agents. Agent lists are available at all USDA Service Centers or at USDA's online Agent Locator: prodwebnlb.rma.usda. gov/apps/AgentLocator/#. Producers can use the USDA Cost Estimator, ewebapp.rma. usda.gov/apps/costestimator/Default.aspx, to predict insurance premium costs. For more information on NAP, service fees, premiums and sales deadlines, contact the Mitchell-Yancey FSA office at 765-5049 or 682-0774 or visit fsa.usda.gov/nap.