VALLEY — Farm Service Agency (FSA) urges Colorado producers who want to purchase 2018 coverage for spring seeded crops through the Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) to do so before the sales closing date of March 15. Please note, the deadline to apply for 2018 coverage for perennial crops and pasture was December 1, 2017. The deadline for 2019 coverage for perennial crops is December 1, 2018.

NAP provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops when low yields/grazing loss, loss of inventory or prevented planting occur due to natural disasters including drought, freeze, hail, excessive moisture, excessive wind or hurricanes.

In order to meet eligibility requirements for NAP, crops must be non-insurable, commercially-produced agricultural commodity crops for which the catastrophic risk protection level of crop insurance is not available.

The Agricultural Act of 2014 (the 2014 Farm Bill) allows producers to choose higher levels of NAP coverage. Previously, the program offered coverage at 55 percent of the average market price for crop losses that exceed 50 percent of expected production. Producers can now choose higher levels of coverage, up to 65 percent of their expected production at 100 percent of the average market price. It is important to note that the higher coverage is not available on grazing crops.

The following spring seeded crops in the San Luis Valley have a NAP application closing date of March 15: Sorghum, oats for forage and others. Contact your administrative county for other crops.