USDA ELAP Program Sign-up Deadline Near
"Producers who suffered losses due to weather or disease will be required to provide documentation of the losses," said Schaunaman. "Losses due to adverse weather occurring on or after January 1, 2008, such as flooding, blizzards, disease, colony collapse, tornados, high winds, freeze, and lightning may be eligible for ELAP benefits."
Feed loss documentation may include the type(s) of feed purchased, cost of feed, date purchased, and signatures of the vendors. Documentation for bees or hives lost due to colony collapse includes certification by registered entomologist or extension specialists of the quantities lost. Documentation will also be required to support the beginning, and ending inventories of bees or bee hives.
Producers that suffered honey bee losses in the 2008 calendar year have until December 10, 2009, to file notice of loss and application for payment for ELAP. Producers suffering losses from January 1, 2009 to September 10, 2009, must file a notice of loss by December 10, 2009. The final date to submit an application for payment for 2009 losses is January 30, 2010. For honey bee losses that occur from September 11, 2009 to December 31, 2009, producers will have 30 days after the loss to file a notice of loss and will have until January 30, 2010, to submit an application for payment.
In regard to any losses after January 1, 2010, producers will have 30 days after the loss occurred to file a notice of loss. Application for payment must be filed within 30 days of the end of the calendar year.
HURON, SD - Craig Schaunaman, State Executive Director for USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) in South Dakota reminds eligible producers who lost honey bees, honey bee hives, or harvested and purchased feed due to adverse weather on or after January 1, 2008 and before October 1, 2011, can now sign up for the USDA Farm Service Agency's (FSA) Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP). ELAP can also provide compensation to producers that have documented losses of honey bees or honey hives due to colony collapse disorder.
"Producers who suffered losses due to weather or disease will be required to provide documentation of the losses," said Schaunaman. "Losses due to adverse weather occurring on or after January 1, 2008, such as flooding, blizzards, disease, colony collapse, tornados, high winds, freeze, and lightning may be eligible for ELAP benefits."
Feed loss documentation may include the type(s) of feed purchased, cost of feed, date purchased, and signatures of the vendors. Documentation for bees or hives lost due to colony collapse includes certification by registered entomologist or extension specialists of the quantities lost. Documentation will also be required to support the beginning, and ending inventories of bees or bee hives.
Producers that suffered honey bee losses in the 2008 calendar year have until December 10, 2009, to file notice of loss and application for payment for ELAP. Producers suffering losses from January 1, 2009 to September 10, 2009, must file a notice of loss by December 10, 2009. The final date to submit an application for payment for 2009 losses is January 30, 2010. For honey bee losses that occur from September 11, 2009 to December 31, 2009, producers will have 30 days after the loss to file a notice of loss and will have until January 30, 2010, to submit an application for payment.
In regard to any losses after January 1, 2010, producers will have 30 days after the loss occurred to file a notice of loss. Application for payment must be filed within 30 days of the end of the calendar year.
Adequate documentation must prove the loss occurred as a direct result of an eligible adverse weather event in the calendar year for which benefits are being requested. To be eligible for ELAP benefits, producers must file an acreage report on honey bee colonies.
Producer eligibility for ELAP also requires that all crops in all counties have crop insurance coverage or Noninsured Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage for the crop year in which benefits are requested. An exception to the insurance and NAP requirements would apply to limited resource producers, socially disadvantaged producers, or beginning farmers and ranchers.
Information regarding other disaster assistance programs authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill, including the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program (SURE), and Tree Assistance Program (TAP) is available at your local FSA office or on the web at http://www.fsa.usda.gov.
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