TAP helps orchard, nursery tree growers

DES MOINES ? John R Whitaker, state executive director for USDA?s Farm Service Agency, reminds orchardists and nursery tree growers who suffer tree, bush or vine losses prior to Oct. 1 this year must file for loss within 90 calendar days from the disaster event or the date when the loss is apparent to be eligible for benefits under the Tree Assistance Program.

?TAP provides help to orchardists and nursery tree growers who produce trees, bushes and vines for commercial purposes, to replant or rehabilitate trees, bushes and vines damaged or destroyed by natural disasters, but producers need to remember to report their losses to FSA,? Whitaker said.

Eligible trees, bushes and vines are those from which an annual crop is produced for commercial purposes. Nursery trees include ornamental, fruit, nut and Christmas trees produced for commercial sale. Trees used for pulp or timber are ineligible.

To be eligible for TAP, producers must have suffered more than a 15 percent death loss due to a natural disaster after adjustment for normal mortality.

TAP is a cost-reimbursement program, with payments covering up to 70 percent of replant costs and 50 percent of pruning, removal and other salvaging costs for replacing or salvaging damaged trees, bushes and vines, or preparing land to plant new trees, bushes and vines.

Producers can receive assistance for a cumulative total of up to 500 acres of trees, bushes or vines for the life of the program. Producers also must have purchased a policy or plan of insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program.

For information, contact the local FSA office or visit FSA?s website at www.fsa.usda.gov.