Farm-raised Fish Included in New Supplemental Ag Disaster Assistance Program

On June 18, 2008, the 2008 Farm Bill was enacted into Public Law 110-246. In the process, five new disaster programs were developed, referred to as Supplemental Agriculture Disaster Assistance programs. These are: Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP), Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), Livestock Indemnity Program* (LIP), Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) Program, and the Tree Assistance Program (TAP). The US Department of Agriculture has produced a Fact Sheet, which states:

“To be eligible for these programs, producers must purchase at least catastrophic risk protection (CAT) level of crop insurance for all insurable crops and/or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage for non-insurable crops. Therefore, for the 2008 crop year only, producers who were eligible to obtain at least CAT level crop insurance or NAP, but did not, can “buy-in” to be eligible to participate in the applicable Supplemental Agriculture Disaster Assistance programs by paying the administrative fee that would have been applicable if the producer had timely applied for CAT or NAP.”

Those that wish to be eligible for these programs in 2008 must meet the buy-in deadline of September 16, 2008.

For more information about these programs and a more complete explanation of buy-in fees, see the Fact Sheet.

Please contact your local Farm Service Agency office about this program. You may be eligible for drought assistance.

Stocking Hybrid Sunfish

In the fall of the year, many people decide to stock ponds. There are different options when stocking fish. You can find out what North Carolina recommends by looking at the NC State University Fisheries and Pond Management Extension website.

One of the options involves stocking hybrid sunfish. Stocking hybrids seems to be a popular option. But it is important to learn more about hybrids before making this choice. I have found a great resource from Mississippi State University that discusses Managing Hybrid Sunfish.

First, a hybrid sunfish can be a cross from several sunfish (bluegill, redear, green, warmouth) species. The most common hybrid in the Southeast is the male bluegill with the female green sunfish.

Some important things to consider when stocking hybrids:

• Hybrids do have a trait called hybrid vigor. This can be seen in rapid and superior growth. Weights exceeding 2-lbs are common. And some may actually get to 3-lbs are greater, but this is not common.
• Hybrids are not sterile. They general produce more males than females limiting the reproduction.
• To see the full potential of the hybrid, it is necessary to stock them in a new pond or a completely renovated pond with no other bream species present.
• Hybrids must be stocked with a predator like largemouth bass or catfish.
• Security from poachers is a must. Hybrids are aggressive and highly catchable.
  

Luke Rides in July...

There are a group of boys that ride their bikes all over the France countryside in July. There is one boy that rides his bike on Lakeside Drive. This July was extra special for me. My son Luke learned to ride his bike without training wheels. It was a grand occasion. I was so proud! I hope he learns to love the bike like I do. I would love to have a little riding partner! Look at that race face!

Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)

United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (USDA-FSA) administers the Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). The NAP is a program that provides some insurance to producers of non-insurable crops like fish when low yields, loss of inventory, or prevented plantings due to natural disasters.

Some eligible crops include:

• crops grown for food

• crops planted and grown for livestock consumption, including, but not limited to, grain and forage crops, including native forage;

• crops grown for fiber, such as cotton and flax (except for trees);

• crops grown under a controlled environment, such as mushrooms and floriculture;

• specialty crops, such as honey and maple sap;

• value loss crops, such as aquaculture, Christmas trees, ginseng, ornamental nursery and turfgrass sod;

• sea oats and sea grass; and

• seed crops where the propagation stock is produced for sale as seed stock for other eligible NAP crop production

The fee for the program is $100. The coverage runs from October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009. The deadline to file for the program is September 1, 2008. Contact your local FSA office to find out more about the program. You can also learn more about the program from the FSA website.
FSA NAP Factsheet