OXFORD – Laura Rand, county executive director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Oxford County, announces that the deadline to sign up for the agency’s Crop Disaster Program is Sept. 9 for the 2003 and 2004 crop years.

Sign-up for the 2005 year is close of business Dec. 16. Producers who suffered crop loss from damaging weather in 2003, 2004 and certain 2005 crop losses are eligible for assistance.

“We are pleased to be able to provide these benefits to producers as quickly as possible,” said Rand. “Drought, floods and hurricanes are unpredictable weather events that put farmers and ranchers at risk in producing a dependable and affordable national food supply.”

Producers suffering a greater than 35-percent production loss and/or more than a 20-percent quality loss are eligible. The payment rate for CDP has been increased to 65 percent of the established commodity price for insured crops and noninsured crops, and 60 percent of the price for uninsured commodities. Previous disaster assistance provided payments of 50 percent of the established commodity price for insured and non-insurable crops and 45 percent for uninsured crops.

Producers may apply for CDP for any crops that are eligible for coverage under the Federal Crop Insurance or the Noninsured Assistance Program. Sign up for the CDP began on March 14, 2005.

For more information on these issues, visit USDA’s Web site at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov/

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