Buy-in waiver issued for disaster assistance program

The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 requires growers have federal crop insurance or non-insured crop disaster assistance (NAP) coverage (if federal crop insurance is not available to them) to participate in any disaster program. Because the bill was passed after the application periods closed for these programs, USDA is offering a waiver for this year only. The deadline for paying the $100 fee is Sept. 16, 2008. With the purchase of this 1-time/1-year disaster coverage, producers are then eligible for FY2008 disaster programs. If producers do not purchase this coverage and do not have federal crop insurance or NAP coverage, they will be ineligible for FY2008 disaster program participation. The buy-in fee does not provide producers regular crop insurance or NAP coverage; it only provides eligibility for FY2008 disaster programs.