Pecan producers still recovering from Hurricane Michael have three weeks to apply for the Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) Program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to extend the deadline from March 5 to April 9 allows farmers extra time to apply for a program that is assisting producers who suffered crop quality losses due to qualifying natural disasters in the 2018 and 2019 crop years.
Crops that can be covered by federal crop insurance or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) are considered eligible for QLA.
Crops must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the program:
- Suffered a quality loss due to a qualifying disaster event;
- Had a 5%-or-greater quality discount due to the qualifying disaster event.
According to a USDA press release, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) began accepting applications on Jan. 6 and has received more than 8,100 applications so far.
Hurricane Michael ravaged the Southeast pecan crop when it moved through the region in October 2018. According to UGA Extension, Georgia pecans suffered $100 million in direct losses to the crop in 2018, $260 million in losses due to lost trees and $200 million in direct losses for future income.
To apply, contact your local USDA Service Center. Additional information is also available at farmers.gov/quality-loss. Producers can also obtain one-on-one support with applications by calling 877-508-8364.