No one plans or wants crop failures related to natural disasters, but it happens.  Be prepared with crop insurance.  You may qualify for Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program at no charge.

An important deadline is quickly approaching for growers of fruits and vegetables.  The deadline is Tuesday, February 28 to obtain Non-insured Crop Disaster Program (NAP) coverage for the following 2023 crops:

• New & beginning farmers (farmed less than 10 years)
• Limited resource farmers
• Socially disadvantaged farmers (Alaskan natives, African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, Native Hawaiians, Hispanics, Women
• Qualifying veteran farmers (must have served in the Armed Forces; farmed less than 10 years; gained veteran status in the most recent 10 years)

NAP is a “crop insurance” product for crops that are not currently covered under the traditional federal crop insurance program administered by the Risk Management Agency (RMA). NAP is administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and it provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops to protect against natural disasters that result in lower yields or crop losses, or prevents crop planting. NAP provides catastrophic coverage (i.e., when the amount of loss exceed 50 percent of expected yields, and valued at 55 percent of the average market price of the crop), but it also allows one to “buy-up” to higher levels of coverage from 50 to 65 percent of production, in 5 percent increments, at 100 percent of the average market price.

McDowell County's USDA-Farm Service Agency is located at 130 Ammons Drive, Morganton. Their phone number is 828-439-9727 x 2.  Don't delay.  There are no late file provisions for NAP.

2023 NAP Factsheet