OXFORD – Gary Raymond, executive director of USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Oxford, announced that eligible farmers who suffered losses to their crops in recent years can now enroll in the Crop Disaster Program at agency service centers.

The agency will announce and conduct sign-up for losses as soon as possible.

“Certain crop producers suffered major financial losses as the result of floods, tornadoes and other natural disasters during the last couple years,” Raymond said. “This program will help many American farmers to maintain viable businesses so consumers at home and abroad have the food and fiber they need to survive.”

The program provides benefits to farmers who suffered losses to the 2005-2007 crops from natural disasters and related conditions, so long as the actual crop lost was planted or prevented from being planted before Feb. 28. Producers who incurred qualifying losses in 2005, 2006 or 2007 must choose only one year to receive benefits. Producers may apply for benefits for losses to multiple crops as long as the losses occurred in the same crop year.

Only producers who obtained crop insurance coverage or coverage under the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program for the year of loss will be eligible for CDP benefits.

Other stipulations may be obtained at the Oxford office.

Raymond also reminds ranchers and other livestock producers that they can apply to receive benefits under the Livestock Compensation Program and Livestock Indemnity Program. The former compensates livestock producers for feed losses occurring between Jan. 1, 2005, and Feb. 28 due to a natural disaster. The latter compensates livestock producers for livestock losses between Jan. 1, 2005, and Feb. 28 that resulted from natural disasters, including losses due to blizzards that started in 2006 and continued into January.

For more information about disaster programs implemented by the agency visit http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov, or contact the Oxford office at 743-6115.