FSA announced that producers have until Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010, to submit an application for payment under the 2008 Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) Program. SURE provides financial assistance for crop production and or quality losses due to a natural disaster.

“We want producers to be aware of this deadline so they are certain to visit their FSA county office to file a 2008 SURE program payment application no later than September, 30, 2010,” said Coppess. “It is important to finish the current 2008 SURE program sign-up because the authority for the Recovery Act supplement for payment benefits expires at the end of the current fiscal year and the Department of Agriculture will then start the 2009 SURE sign-up application process.”

FSA began accepting and processing 2008 SURE program applications in January 2010, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) allowed for a one-time increase in the calculation of 2008 SURE payments that are filed by Sept. 30, 2010. Producers who do not file a 2008 SURE program payment application by Sept. 30, 2010, will not be considered eligible for 2008 SURE program payments.

Producers are encouraged to file an application for 2008 SURE payments regardless of whether they think they may or may not qualify. An electronic SURE program payment calculator and additional information regarding the SURE program is located at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/sure, or producers can contact their local county FSA office at 507-373-7960.