07/16/08 New disaster assistance programs

Washington Ag July 16, 2008 One thing Congress added in the 2008 Farm Bill was a permanent disaster program to help farmers and ranchers who experience weather and natural disaster losses. As Chris Bieker with the Washington State Farm Service Agency office explains, there are several programs that make up disaster assistance. Bieker: "There is a supplemental revenue assistance payment, which is called SURE. And that is a payment in addition to any crop insurance or NAP coverage. There is a Livestock Forage Disaster Program that is only loss of forage on lands that are affected by drought or wildfire on federal lands. There is a Livestock Indemnity Program which has do to with the loss of livestock only. There is a Tree Assistance Program which has to do with receiving a payment for loss of trees. And all of these are due to natural disasters. " Farmers and ranchers have to have crop insurance or non-insured crop disaster assistance to participate in these programs, but if you don't there is still a way to be eligible for 2008. That story tomorrow. I'm Bob Hoff.