
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 25, 1995                   TAG: 9506260048
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

HELP AVAILABLE FOR TREE GROWERS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has agreed to a request from Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, to look into making Christmas tree growers eligible for federal crop insurance against natural disasters.

Meanwhile, the department's Federal Crop Insurance Corp. will implement its Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, which applies to crops for which federal insurance is unavailable, including Christmas trees.

Last year, an unseasonable freeze caused Christmas tree farmers in Southwest Virginia to lose much of their crop.

To be eligible for protection, farmers must report their acreage to the nearest Consolidated Farm Service Agency office by July 15. Boucher emphasized that farmers who fail to meet the deadline will not be eligible.

"In essence, the NAP provides catastrophic coverage," Boucher said, for farmers who have lost at least half their approved crops.

"Coverage provided by the NAP is free of charge, and I would strongly recommend that growers report their acreage as soon as possible," he said.

by CNB