By Clint Thompson and Dale Sandlin
Florida specialty crop growers suffered immensely with the Jan. 31/Feb. 1 freeze event. Time is ticking for those producers to take advantage of disaster programs offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA).
Richard Fordyce, USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation, highlighted one specific program that will benefit Florida growers especially.
“The Tree Assistance Program (TAP) literally provides assistance to folks, citrus growers, in the case of Florida, or other folks that have trees, vines or bushes where those plants have been damaged or killed because of a natural disaster. We offer that assistance to replace those trees, vines and bushes. It’s a program that’s utilized quite a bit,” Fordyce said.
“Let’s say blueberries in Florida, if the freeze damaged those so bad that they’ve got to be replaced, then those producers would be eligible for the Tree Assistance Program. It’s the same with citrus, other types of trees, vines and bushes. That is a really strong program for that kind of agriculture.”
Program Specifics
Eligible applicants must provide verifiable documentation of the losses and meet all program requirements. An application for payment must also be submitted within 90 calendar days of the disaster event or when the loss is apparent. Eligible plantings must have suffered more than 15% mortality rate to qualify.
For fruit growers that are applying for TAP, they must complete and submit an application for assistance to their local FSA offices. The process includes providing documentation of losses and costs associated with replanting or rehabilitation. Detailed enrollment instructions and deadlines are available through local FSA offices.
TAP provides cost-share assistance of up to 65% of the actual cost of replanting or rehabilitating damaged or destroyed trees, bushes and vines. Limited resource and beginning farmers may be eligible for up to 75% cost share.
Click here for more information about TAP.