Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program

The Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency funds the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (CFDA 10.451) to provide financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops when natural disasters cause low yields, loss of inventory, or prevented planting; grant awards have not been disbursed under this program since May 2017.

NAP reduces financial losses when damaging weather or adverse natural occurrences cause loss of expected production or prevent planting of eligible crops during a coverage period. Eligible crops include commercial crops and agricultural commodities produced for food, fiber, or bioenergy conversion—specifically floricultural, ornamental nursery, and Christmas tree crops, turfgrass sod, seed crops, aquaculture including ornamental fish, and industrial crops—excluding livestock and by-products, tobacco, and trees grown for lumber or paper products. Eligible producers are owners, landlords, tenants, or sharecroppers who share in production risk and are entitled to share in the crop available for marketing. The program provides catastrophic-level coverage (55 percent of average market price for losses exceeding 50 percent of expected production) with additional coverage options ranging from 50 to 65 percent of production at 100 percent of average market price, available in 5 percent increments and subject to premium and service fees. Applicants must retain financial books and records for at least three years following the year an application is filed. County committees normally decide applications within 60 calendar days of receipt of all required documentation. Assistance is provided in a single payment following approval.

The portfolio shows four Cooperative Agreements awarded in 2017 totaling $198 thousand in federal dollars obligated—all funded by FSA. Recent awards funded outreach and awareness activities for FSA programs, including financial assistance education for noninsured disaster assistance in partnership with organic certification cost-share efforts. Award values ranged from approximately $35 thousand to $93 thousand.

A grant opportunity for Outreach Education and Technical Assistance for Farm Service Agency Programs (USDA-FSA-MULTI-21-NOFO0001104) was posted April 5, 2021 with a May 5, 2021 due date, soliciting Cooperative Agreements from higher education institutions, tribal governments and organizations, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits to expand FSA outreach to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. No subsequent grant opportunities or awards are evident in the source.