Marathon County’s Farm Service Agency Executive Director, Matt Peplinski, reminds producers that the sign-up period for the 2010 crop year Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program will begin on November 14, 2011. SURE provides assistance to farmers and ranchers who have suffered losses due to natural disasters.

"SURE is part of the ‘safety net’ that provides assistance to producers who have suffered losses from natural disasters,” Peplinski said. "Producers who suffered losses during the 2010 crop year are encouraged to visit the Marathon County FSA office to learn more about the SURE program."

To be eligible for SURE a farm must have:
• At least a 10 percent production loss adjusted for quality on a crop of economic significance;
• A policy or plan of insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) for all economically significant crops;
• Been physically located in a county that was declared a primary disaster county or contiguous county by the Agriculture Secretary under a Secretarial Disaster Designation. Without a Secretarial Disaster Designation, individual producers may be eligible if the actual production on the farm is less than 50 percent of the normal production on the farm due to a natural disaster.

In Wisconsin, the following counties were determined primary or contiguous for 2010:

Barron Buffalo
Chippewa Clark
Door Dunn
Eau Claire Florence
Forest Grant
Green Jackson
Kewaunee La Crosse
Lafayette Langlade
Lincoln Marathon
Marinette Menominee
Oconto Oneida
Pepin Portage
Price Rock
Rusk Shawano
Taylor Trempealeau
Vilas Waupaca
Wood

Producers considered socially disadvantaged, a beginning farmer or rancher, or a limited resource farmer may be eligible for SURE without a policy or plan of insurance or NAP coverage.

For more information on the 2010 SURE program or to schedule an appointment, contact the Marathon County Farm Service Agency at 326 River Drive, Wausau, WI or call 715-848-2330.