Orchardists, vineyardists and nursery tree growers who experience losses from natural disasters during calendar year 2016 must submit a TAP application either 90-calendar days after the disaster event or the date when the loss is apparent. TAP was authorized by the Agricultural Act of 2014 as a permanent disaster program. TAP provides financial assistance to qualifying orchardists, vineyardists and nursery tree growers to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes and vines damaged by natural disasters.
Eligible tree types include trees, bushes or vines that produce an annual crop for commercial purposes. Nursery trees include ornamental, fruit, nut and Christmas trees that are produced for commercial sale. Trees used for pulp or timber are ineligible.
To qualify for TAP, producers must suffer a qualifying tree, bush or vine loss in excess of 15 percent mortality from an eligible natural disaster. If a 15 percent mortality threshold is met, losses in excess will be eligible for cost-share to replant dead trees/bushes/vines and/or cost-share to rehabilitate damaged trees/bushes/vines. The eligible trees, bushes or vines must have been owned when the natural disaster occurred; however, eligible growers are not required to own the land on which the eligible trees, bushes and vines were planted.
If the TAP application is approved, the eligible trees, bushes and vines must be replaced within 12 months from the date the application is approved. The cumulative total quantity of acres planted to trees, bushes or vines, for which a producer can receive TAP payments, cannot exceed 500 acres annually.
For more information, call the Botetourt/Craig/Roanoke FSA County Office at (540) 977-2698, Ext. 2.
