State Executive Director of USDA’s Farm Service Agency John R. Whitaker announced that disaster assistance under FSA’s Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program begins on October 22, 2012.

In order to be eligible for SURE a farm or ranch must meet the following requirements: 1. At least a 10 percent production loss on a crop of economic significance.  2. Insured all economically significant crops.  3. Been physically located in a county that was declared a primary disaster county or contiguous county by the Secretary of Agriculture under a Secretarial Designation.  Without a Secretarial Disaster Designation, individual producers may be eligible if the actual production on the farm is less than 50 percent of the normal production on the farm due to natural disaster in 2011.  Other insurance qualifications do apply.

Those producers that suffered a loss in 2011 are encouraged to visit their local FSA office to learn more and to apply.

For more information about the SURE program or other disaster assistance programs you can visit the FSA’s website at www.fsa.usda.gov.