Risk Management Toolbox for Specialty Crop Growers

Notice of Loss: Reporting Noninsured Crop Losses to FSA

After applying for Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance (NAP), one of the most important aspects of properly managing noninsured specialty crop risk is timely filing the notice of loss with FSA. In order to be eligible for NAP assistance, the producer must notify FSA of any crop loss or damage within 15 days of the:

• natural disaster occurrence;
• date damage to the crop or loss of production becomes apparent to the farmer;
• normal harvest date, as established by FSA; or
• final planting date, if the planting was prevented by a natural disaster.

Field visits may be required for a timely filed notice of loss. Field visits will be scheduled, to the extent practicable, within 5 calendar days of the date the notice of loss, Form CCC-576, is filed. If the producer is planning to destroy the crop prior to harvest, an inspection of the entire acreage must be completed before destruction of any of the acreage. Acreage destroyed without inspection and consent will not be eligible for NAP assistance.

If notice of loss is not filed timely, the producer may be determined ineligible for NAP payments for that specific crop loss. Late-filed notice of loss can only be approved if the cause of loss and extent of crop damage can be accurately assessed by FSA through a field visit.

The Form CCC-576, Notice of Loss and Application for Payment, is used by FSA to document notice of loss for NAP crops. Specifically, the CCC-576 documents:

• a producer's notice of loss or damage to a NAP crop or commodity;
• the producer's explanation of what has been done with the crop acreage or commodity;
• a record of production; and nan application for NAP payment.

(An example copy of the CCC-576, Parts A & B, is on the reverse side of this information sheet for reference.) A separate CCC-576 must be filed for each crop and type, or variety of the crop, as applicable, affected by a weather-related event or adverse natural disaster occurrence. Subsequent weather events affecting the same crop must also be reported, but will be documented on the previously filed CCC-576. "Part B" of the CCC-576 is completed by the producer. Application for payment is not considered filed until all production information has been submitted, including appraisal data and production evidence, and agreed to by the producer in "Part E" of the CCC-576. Any producer having an interest in the crop of commodity may file a CCC-576, Notice of Loss. However, all producers on a unit are bound by the operator's filing or failure to file, unless the individual producers elect to timely file notice. The NAP Application for Coverage, Form CCC-471, must be filed by the applicable application closing date for the crop, with the appropriate fees paid, in order for the Form CCC-576, Notice of Loss, to be approved by FSA.

The bottom line: Always report crop damage or loss to FSA immediately after occurrence.

Notice of Loss/Application for Payment Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program Form CCC-576 can be found on the U.S. Department of Agriculture website in pdf format at: http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/Forms/CCC0576.pdf

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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