Tree Assistance Program Twists

Tree Assistance Program. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

We have talked before about the FSA’s Tree Assistance Program or TAP but with the weather that Mother Nature has been tossing at us already it might bear repeating. Chris Bieker, Outreach Coordinator with Farm Service Agency describes the program.

BIEKER: The Tree Assistance Program compensates growers for replanting or salvaging fruit trees, Christmas trees or nursery trees and it also includes grapevines.

FSA is encouraging producers to pay attention to any damage they may incur.  Bieker says there are a couple interesting twists to the program.

BIEKER: The producer has up to a year after they apply to replant and do whatever work is necessary and then we will make those payments so we’re concerned about a couple of things. One: whether there will be trees available depending on how much damage actually exists and how much replanting may have to take place. If everyone is not able to replant within a year we may need to ask for an extension on this program.

She says it’s important to hear from producers as soon as possible. And she says there is another twist looming.

BIEKER: The program was authorized by the Farm Bill, we’re looking at all the discussion at the national level with federal budgets so we’re concerned that there will be funding for this program for the time that it takes to get trees replanted.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.