The Pike/Bullock County USDA Farm Service Agency has announced that the legislative authority for the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program ends on Sept. 30.

Jeff Knotts, executive director, said that producers must meet specific eligibility requirements to receive SURE assistance for disasters that occur on or before Sept. 30, 2011 and affect fall 2011 and 2012 crops.

“The SURE program compensates producers for production and or quality losses during times of disaster,” Knotts said.

“Producers can apply for a 2011 or 2012 SURE payment if a crop of economic significance located in a primary or contiguous disaster county under a Secretarial Disaster Designation suffered at least a 10 percent loss because of a disaster occurring on or before Sept. 30, 2011.”

Knotts said crops are not required to be harvested on or before Sept. 30 to maintain SURE eligibility.

“A loss claim will only trigger after FSA determines that the loss was because of a disaster occurring on or before Sept. 30, 2011,” Knotts said. “Losses that result from disasters that occur after Sept. 30, 2011 will not be eligible for SURE benefits.”

Producers with 2011 and 2012 crops that suffered losses caused by disasters that occur on or before Sept. 30, 2011, must meet certain criteria.

“For insured crops, the insurance policy defines the coverage period as beginning on or before Sept. 30, 2011,” Knotts said. “For Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance (NAP) crops, the coverage period begins on or before Sept. 30, 2011.

“The final planting date according to RMA and FSA – NAP crops only – occurs on or before Sept. 30, 2011.”

Knotts said that if the crop is planted prior to Sept. 30, 2011, but the final planting date is after Sept. 30, 2011, the crop will not be eligible for SURE benefits.

The sign-up period for 2011 and 2012 SURE will not begin until after the national average market prices are determined for each respective crop year, which is normally one year after the applicable crop year.

For questions regarding the SURE program, contact the Pike/Bullock County FSA office at 334-566-2301.