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USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides emergency loans to help producers recover from production and physical losses due to drought, flooding, other natural disasters or quarantine. If the county in which you reside has had a Presidential or Secretarial Disaster Declaration, you could make an application for an emergency loan.

Loan uses
Emergency loan funds may be used to: restore or replace essential property; pay all or part of production costs associated with the disaster year; pay essential family living expenses; reorganize the farming operation and refinance certain debts.
Further information and applications for the loan programs described are available at local FSA county offices.

Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)
Producers must apply for coverage before a disaster strikes. Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) applications for coverage must be filed using Form CCC-471 and applicable service fees must be paid by the closing date. Application closing dates vary by crop.
The following Minnesota sales closing dates are fast approaching.
• Nov. 20: perennial fruits/vegetables (apples, blueberries, caneberries, grapes, cranberries
• Dec. 1: honey
Producers are reminded about the need for insurance coverage on crops in order to remain eligible for the agency's Disaster Assistance Programs. Producers must purchase at least catastrophic (CAT) level of insurance for all insurable crops. NAP provides coverage to producers for non-insurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory or prevented planting occur due to natural disasters. Crops eligible for NAP coverage are those for which crop insurance is not available, including fruits and vegetables, aquaculture, pecans, turf grass and forage crops just to name a few. More information about NAP may be found on the FSA Web site located at http://www.fsa.usda.gov

Upcoming deadlines for 2011
• Oct. 10, 2011 - Office closed in honor of Columbus Day.
• Nov. 11, 2011 - Office closed in honor of Veterans Day.
• Nov. 20, 2011 - Final date to purchase NAP coverage on perennial fruits/vegetables (apple, blueberries, cranberries, grapes, caneberries).
Farm Service Agency is an Equal Opportunity Lender. Complaints about discrimination should be sent to: Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250. Visit the Farm Service Agency Web site at www.fsa.usda.gov for necessary application forms and updates on USDA programs.
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