USDA Reminds Jefferson/Sevier/Cocke County Producers of March 15 Sales Closing Date for Noninsurable Crops

Jefferson/Sevier/Cocke Farm Service Agency (FA) reminds producers who wish to purchase crop loss protection, for non-insurable crops for the 2016 crop year of the following final sales closing date:

The following crops in Jefferson/Sevier/Cocke County have a NAP application closing date of March 15, 2016: Alfalfa, Beans, Cantaloupe, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Grass, Millet, Okra, Peas, Peppers, Mixed Forage, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Soybeans, Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Watermelons.

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, ornamentsl nursery, aquaculture, turf grass, gingsend, honey, syrup, bioenergy and industrial crops.

If a crop is not listed that you are interested in, please contact the FSA Office for applicable sales closing date.

Eligible producers must apply for coverage or non-insurable crops and pay the applicable service fees at the Jefferson/Sevier/Cocke FSA Office by the application closing date. The service fee is 250.00 per crop or $750.00 per producers per administrative county, not to exceed a total of $1875.00 per producer with family interest in multiple counties. Limited resource producers may request a waiver of service fees.

USDA has partnered with Michigan State University and the University of Illinois to create an online tool at www.fsa.usda.gov/nap that allows producers to determine whether their crops are eligible for federal crop insurance or NAP and to explore the best level of protection for their operation. NAP basic coveage is available at 55 percent of the average market price for crop losses that exceeed 50 percent of expected production, with higher levels of coverage, up to 65 percent of their expected production at 100 percent of the average makert price available, including coverage for organics and crops marketed directly to consumers. Crops intended for grazing are not eligible for additional NAP coverage.

Feceral 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 Locater: http://prodwebnib.rma.usda.gov/apps/AgentLocator/#.

Producers can use the USDA Cost Estimator, https://ewebapp.rma.usda.gov/apps/costestmator/Default.aspx, to predict insurance premium costs.

For more information on NAP, service fees, premiums and sales closing dates, contact the Jefferson/Sevier/Cocke County FSA office at 321 Highway 92S, Dandridge TN 37725 or call 865-397-3151 x2 and visit the web at www.fsa.usda.gov/nap or email James.Giffin@tn.usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistance Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD), (English Federal-relay) (866) 377-8642 or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay).