Chairwoman Stabenow Announces Relief for Fruit Growers Devastated by Weather Disasters
Program Created by Stabenow as Part of 2014 Farm Bill Will Aid Growers Impacted by Frosts and Freezes in 2012
Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today announced that many fruit growers across the country whose farms were devastated by extreme weather conditions in 2012 will now be able to apply for disaster relief from the USDA. The new buy-up provisions in the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), authored by Chairwoman Stabenow as part of the 2014 Farm Bill, will extend relief to growers who suffered from disasters but did not have access to crop insurance.
Chairwoman Stabenow led the effort to create new risk management tools and level the playing field for fruit and vegetable growers in the 2014 Farm Bill by including the new buy-up provisions in NAP, as well as creating new crop insurance options for fruits and vegetables for the first time ever.
“Family farms and businesses shouldn’t have to go under because of a few days of bad weather,” Chairwoman Stabenow said. “That’s why it was so crucial when writing the 2014 Farm Bill to make sure that growers of all crops have access to relief to keep their farms running.
“Frosts and freezes in 2012 destroyed crops like cherries and apples in Michigan and across the country, leaving so many fruit growers who did not have access to crop insurance struggling to keep family farms from going under. I’m proud that these hard working farmers will finally be able to access relief to help keep their businesses operating, and continue growing the economy.”
Eligible producers from states across the country who experienced losses in 2012 due to frost or freeze, and who did not have access to crop insurance, will be able to apply for assistance beginning tomorrow, July 22, through their local Farm Service Agency office. A list of FSA field offices can be accessed on USDA’s website here.
For more information about the enrollment process and other details about the NAP program, please visit USDA’s website here. For more information about the 2014 Farm Bill’s disaster assistance and risk management programs, please visit here.
