NONINSURED CROP DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM APPLICATIONS DUE BY APRIL 18 Media Contact: Jillene Johnson (202) 720-9733

NEWS Farm Service Agency Public Affairs Staff 1400 Independence Ave SW Stop 0506, Room 3624-South Washington, D.C. 20250-0506 Release No. 1485.02 Jillene Johnson (202) 720-9733 jillene_johnson@wdc.usda.gov NONINSURED CROP DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM APPLICATIONS DUE BY APRIL 18 WASHINGTON, April 1, 2002 - Producers have until April 18, 2002, to apply for coverage for certain eligible crops under the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. This deadline applies to 2001 and 2002 crops for which the coverage period would normally have begun prior to March 19, 2002, or within 60 days after March 19, 2002. Along with submitting an application for coverage, producers must pay applicable service fees and provide a certification of prior crop year production for the crop by April 18, 2002. The deadline for submitting an application for payment for 2001 crop losses is the 2002 acreage reporting date for the crop. Producers seeking NAP coverage of eligible crops are encouraged to contact their local USDA Service Center prior to the deadline to identify applicable crops and file an application. Producers are reminded there are no late-file provisions for submitting applications for coverage after April 18, 2002. NAP provides financial assistance to producers for eligible crop losses and prevented planting due to natural disasters. Eligible crops are those for which the catastrophic level of Federal crop insurance is not available and include those produced for food, livestock feed, fiber, mushrooms, floriculture, honey, maple sap, aquaculture (including ornamental fish), Christmas tree crops, ginseng, ornamental nursery and turfgrass sod. # NOTE: Farm Service Agency (FSA) news releases and media advisories are available on the Web at FSA's Home Page: http://www.fsa.usda.gov