Business

Deadline nears for farmers to apply for disaster aid

By Bill Moss, Published: November 14, 2019

Henderson County farmers who suffered crop losses in the flooding and record rainfall last year have until Nov. 20 to apply for disaster assistance.

The program, which also applies in Buncombe, Haywood, Rutherford and Transylvania counties, will directly assist farmers who suffered losses to commodities, livestock, poultry and aquaculture because of excessive rain and flooding that occurred from May 15 through the end of 2018.

“It is important for farmers who suffered losses during that time period in 2018 to act quickly and sign up for this program," said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. "There will be no extensions to this deadline."

Producers in these five counties who experienced a verifiable crop loss as a result of excessive rain and flooding that occurred during the time period, will need to go to their local U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency office to file the necessary paperwork for FSA Form 578. This is a required document in the application process for producers who experienced loss with apples, corn for grain, grass, tomatoes or other field crops.  The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will administer the program.

Producers without a 2018 FSA Form 578 on file can request a manual form at their local USDA Service Center/FSA Office. Please start this process as soon as possible. For application instructions and access to the application portal, go to www.ncagr.gov/agriculturaldisasterprogram.
Local FSA and Cooperative Extension offices will be available to assist farmers with applications. For more information, visit www.ncagr.gov/agriculturaldisasterprogram or call 1-866-645-9403.