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USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director, Scherrie Giamanco announced that the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program enrollment for 2010 crop year losses began November 14, 2011 and ends June 1, 2012.

“Producers across the state experienced several natural disasters during the 2010 crop year that caused hardship and financial losses to many agricultural operations,” said Giamanco. “The SURE program provides assistance to producers when disaster strikes, so I strongly encourage producers with 2010 crop losses to contact their local County FSA office to learn more about the program," she said.

To qualify for a SURE payment, the producer's operation must be located in a county that was declared a disaster for 2010 and have at least a 10 percent production loss that affects one crop of economic significance. Producers with agricultural operations located outside a disaster county are eligible for SURE benefits if they had a production loss greater or equal to 50 percent of the normal production on the farm.

The following Illinois counties received a disaster designation during 2010: Adams, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, McDonough and Pike.

To meet program eligibility requirements, producers must have obtained a policy or plan of insurance for all insurable crops through the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and obtained Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage on non-insurable crops, if available, from FSA. Eligible farmers and ranchers who meet the definition of a socially disadvantaged, limited resource or beginning farmer or rancher do not have to meet this requirement. Forage crops intended for grazing are not eligible for SURE benefits.

For more information on SURE program eligibility requirements contact your local County FSA office or visit the website at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/sure.