Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman announced this week that sign-up will begin Sept. 15 for the Sugar Beet Disaster Program. The program was authorized by the Agriculture Assistance Act of 2003 to provide up to $60 million to producers who suffered sugar beet losses from natural disaster in either 2001 or 2002.
"This assistance program will help Wyoming's sugar beet producers weather the harsh conditions that have set them back," said Enzi.
Producers are eligible for the program if they have sustained at least a 35 percent loss in sugar beet production in either the 2001 or 2002 crop years. Eligible losses include production losses in quantity or quality while the crop was still in the ground, and for acreage that was prevented from being planted.
Payments will be distributed based on the highest of three options, which include:
• 60 percent of the producer's crop insurance indemnity.
• 65 percent of the producer's expected production minus the producer's actual production, multiplied by 55 percent of Multi-Peril Crop Insurance price election.
• 100 percent of the producer's expected production minus the producer's actual production, multiplied by $12.50 per ton.
Applications for the program can be filed at a local Farm Service Agency (FSA) from Sept. 15 through Oct. 31.
For more information on Agricultural Assistance Act programs please contact a local FSA office or visit the FSA's website (disaster.fsa.usda.gov/).
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