Ag Producers Affected by Natural Disasters in 2018 & 2019 Eligible for WHIP+
Friday, October 25th, 2019 -- 7:39 AM
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) -Agricultural producers affected by natural disasters in 2018 and 2019 can apply for various assistance programs through the USDA's Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus or WHIP+.State Farm Service Agency Director Sandy Chalmers says with the record amounts of crops prevented from planting across the state and nation, more than $3 billion is available through the latest disaster relief package. WHIP+ will be available for eligible producers who have suffered eligible losses of certain crops, trees, bushes or vines in counties with a Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration or a Secretarial Disaster Designation. Disaster losses must have been a result of hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, typhoons, volcanic activity, snowstorms or wildfires that occurred in 2018 or 2019. Producers in counties that did not receive a disaster declaration or designation may still apply for WHIP+ but must provide supporting documentation to establish that the crops were directly affected by a qualifying disaster loss. Payments for 2018 disasters will be eligible for 100 percent of their calculated value, while payments for 2019 disasters will be limited to an initial 50 percent of their calculated value, with an opportunity to receive up to the remaining 50 percent after January 1, 2020, if sufficient funding remains.
Both insured and uninsured producers are eligible to apply for WHIP+. But all producers receiving WHIP+ payments will be required to purchase crop insurance or NAP, at the 60 percent coverage level or higher, for the next two available, consecutive crop years after the crop year for which WHIP+ payments were paid. Producers who fail to purchase crop insurance for the next two applicable, consecutive years will be required to pay back the WHIP+ payment. Additional information about WHIP+ program eligibility and payment limitations can be found at farmers.gov/recover or by contacting your local USDA Service Center.
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