09/02/08 Disaster buy in deadline coming

Washington Ag September 2, 2008 The 2008 Farm Bill included a program for permanent disaster assistance for farmers and ranchers. But to be able to participate in the various disaster programs a producer must have crop insurance or non-insured crop disaster assistance, NAP. Chris Bieker with the Washington State office of the Farm Service Agency explains that if you did not have the required crop insurance coverage there is still time to get it. Bieker: "And because the dates for those have gone by for 2008 we have a buy in waiver for producers. They need to purchase that buy in by September 16th." That buy in will cost $100 per crop and not more than $300 per producer per county. If a producer operates in multiple counties, the total maximum cost would be $900. Bieker emphasizes the buy in is only for this year. For future years you must purchase crop insurance or NAP. Bieker: "So we have a 2008 waiver and 2009 eligibility where they need to be looking at purchasing their crop insurance or NAP coverage by the 2009 dates." But again for 2008, the buy in deadline is September 16th. I'm Bob Hoff.