6-9 IAN Tree Assistance

 Assistance for orchardists and nursery tree growers with weather-related losses can now be obtained through the Tree Assistance Program (TAP), administered by the Farm Service Agency. Signup began Monday, May 10, 2010 for growers to apply for benefits under TAP at local Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices. The Tree Assistance Program (TAP), authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill, provides help to orchard  and nursery tree growers who produce trees, bushes and vines for commercial purposes, to replant or rehabilitate trees, bushes and vines damaged or destroyed by natural disasters. Christmas tree and nursery tree growers are now also eligible. Trees grown for pulp or timber or grown for commercial purposes are not eligible.

 To be eligible for TAP, producers must have suffered more than a 15 percent death loss due to the natural disaster after adjustment for normal mortality. Dick Rush State Executive Director talks about how the program affects Idaho producers: “The benefit it provides to Idaho producers that have trees or vines, that would include grapevines, of course in Idaho we have a lot of fruit trees, this program would pay for the loss of the tree or vine or bush as well. TAP is a cost-reimbursement program, with payments covering up to 70 percent of replant costs and 50 percent of pruning, removal and other salvaging costs for replacing or salvaging damaged trees.

 Producers can receive assistance for up to 500 acres of trees, bushes or vines. Producers must also have purchased a policy or plan of insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, or for 2008 crop year a waiver of the risk management purchase requirement could be obtained through a buy-in provision. Eligible losses must have occurred on or after Jan. 1, 2008, and before Oct. 1, 2011.