SURE Jan 4th

 The New Year brings New opportunities to cash in if you had problems with crops. Dick Rush, Executive Director of USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Idaho today announced that USDA has implemented the new Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments program (SURE) in accordance with the 2008 Farm Bill. Rush also encouraged producers to visit their FSA county office beginning on January 4, 2010, to participate in the program if they suffered crop production losses during the 2008 crop year.

 "This program is an important component of the farm safety net and will provide financial assistance to producers who have suffered crop losses due to natural disasters," said Rush. "Producers will receive payments beginning in January, in time to help them with planning for next year's crop."

 SURE provides crop disaster assistance payments to eligible producers on farms that have incurred crop production or crop quality losses. The program takes into consideration crop losses on all crops grown by a producer nationwide. SURE provides assistance in an amount equal to 60 percent of the difference between the SURE farm guarantee and total farm revenue. The farm guarantee is based on the amount of crop insurance and Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage on the farm. Total farm revenue takes into account the actual value of production on the farm as well as insurance indemnities and certain farm program payments.