Nursery Grower Signup for USDA Hurricane Assistance

The signup for the USDA Florida Nursery Disaster Program has been sped up and now officially begins Wednesday, October 20th - six days earlier than previously announced.

To cut down on wait time, it may be helpful to call your local USDA-Farm Service Agency office in advance to set up an actual appointment.

If you've never had business with your local FSA office, when you arrive you will be asked to locate your nursery on the FSA map.

You will need to complete several forms including the FSA-434 form. For a sample FSA-434 form and instructions, visit the Florida Nurserymen & Growers Association web site at https://www.fnga.org/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=389.

It would help if you bring the following documents: a copy of the deed or tax receipt for your nursery as proof of ownership; any applicable corporate or partnership papers with ID number; and, a copy of a check showing your bank account and routing numbers.

While this special one-time program was developed for nursery growers hit by Hurricanes Charley & Frances in declared disaster counties, FNGLA was successful in expanding it to now cover Hurricane Jeanne as well. Since Hurricane Ivan was a multi-state event, nursery growers in the panhandle will be eligible for assistance under a separate USDA program which Congress just passed. More info will come.

Meanwhile, under the Florida Nursery Disaster Program, the payment rate will be 25% of the actual dollar value of inventory loss. There is a statutory USDA crop loss payment limit of $80,000 for all programs. Your loss calculation will be based on your plants and trees that have no dollar value following the disaster. The payment is not contingent on any minimum percentage loss threshold traditionally found in USDA crop loss disaster programs, however, FSA cannot count plants/trees damaged or delayed for sale towards your loss calculation. Any crop loss payment is in addition to any payment you might receive from crop insurance. In order to be eligible for the crop loss payment, you must have adjusted gross income of $2.5 million or less. If your adjusted gross income is greater than $2.5 million, you are still eligible if 75% is derived from farming.

You may also be eligible to receive a flat $250 per acre to offset some of your nursery clean up costs. While you'll be asked to certify the number of acres eligible for cleanup assistance, there is no cap on this payment and it is in addition to the crop loss payment noted above.

--from the Florida Nurserymen & Growers Association