Farm Service Agency taking applications for assistance with disaster, pandemic revenue losses

LINCOLN – The Nebraska USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) has issued a release to remind agricultural producers throughout Nebraska of the availability of two financial assistance programs designed to address revenue losses associated with natural disasters and the pandemic. The Emergency Relief Program Phase 2 and the Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP) currently are both open for application at FSA offices across the state.

According to the FSA, Phase 2 of the Emergency Relief Program and the Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program both evaluate losses from a revenue standpoint, rendering them unique to other FSA programs. The programs are producer certification programs, with most necessary application information coming from personal financial records. The FSA encourages those interested in taking advantage of the programs to work with the county FSA office soon, before the typically busy spring season.

Emergency Relief Program Phase 2 provides financial assistance to producers who suffered a loss in revenue on eligible crops due to a qualifying natural disaster event in calendar years 2020 and 2021.

Eligible crops include both traditional insurable commodities (excluding crops intended for grazing) and specialty crops that are produced in the United States as part of a farming operation and are intended to be commercially marketed.

Livestock and animal by-products are ineligible commodities for this emergency relief program. The loss in 2020 and 2021 allowable gross revenue will be determined by comparing it to allowable gross revenue in a benchmark year, either 2018 or 2019, as selected by the producer.

The Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP) provides financial assistance to producers of agricultural commodities, both crops and livestock, who suffered at least a 15 percent loss in gross revenue in the calendar year 2020 due to the pandemic.

Payments to producers will be based upon a comparison of the producer’s allowable gross revenue from 2020 to a benchmark year, either 2018 or 2019, as selected by the producer. The PARP payment will be reduced by other applicable pandemic assistance payments earned by the producer.

Resources available to assist producers with understanding and completing applications, including information packets, step-by-step application worksheets, and a link to a recorded webinar can be found on the Nebraska Farm Service Agency’s website. Producers can also direct their questions to their county Farm Service Agency office.

The application period for these programs is open through June 2, 2023. Those interested in learning more can contact their county FSA office.

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