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Emergency Relief Program Information Guide

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that my legislation to provide direct payments to growers who had crop losses due to natural disasters in 2020 or 2021 is being implemented. USDA will immediately begin Phase 1 of the program which will now be referred to as the Emergency Relief Program (previously known as the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus or WHIP+).

Phase 1 includes all crops for which Federal Crop Insurance or Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance (NAP) coverage was available and a crop insurance indemnity or NAP payment was received. USDA has stated that Phase 2, which includes all other growers, will be administered later this summer.If you are unsure which phase you are in, please contact your local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office.

For Phase 1 growers, USDA will send you a prefilled application form. There will be separate forms for each year of losses. You will need to review the forms to ensure all the information is accurate, sign, and return it to your local FSA office in person or by fax or email. USDA expects to send out these pre-filled applications by the end of May. You will not receive your payment if you do not return your form to the FSA office.

Phase 1 producers must also have the following forms on file with FSA:

  • Form AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet
  • Form CCC-902, Farm Operating Plan for an individual or legal entity
  • Form CCC-901, Member Information for Legal Entities (if applicable)
  • A highly erodible land conservation (sometimes referred to as HELC) and wetland conservation certification (Form AD-1026 Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification) for the ERP producer and applicable affiliates.

I am told that most producers, especially those who have previously participated in FSA programs, will likely have these required forms on file. However, if you are uncertain or want to confirm, you should contact your local FSA office.

Importantly, my legislation raised the cap on payments for specialty crops, including winegrapes. In addition to the forms listed above, you may also need to submit the following forms to qualify for this increased payment limitation or payment rate.

  • Form FSA-510, Request for an Exception to the $125,000 Payment Limitation for Certain Programs.
  • Form CCC-860, Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, Beginning and Veteran Farmer or Rancher Certification, for the applicable program year.

On Thursday, June 2nd, I held a webinar with representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). They gave an overview of the program and answered questions. Here is a link to a recording of the webinar. Additional information can be found here: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/emergency-relief/index

Looking for a local Farm Services Administration office? Visit the Department of Agriculture here.