USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), today announced that sign-up begins Nov. 1, 2006, for the $17 million 2005 Dairy Disaster Assistance Payment Program (DDAP-II), which will help dairy producers recover from 2005 hurricane losses.
Eligible DDAP-II counties are those declared a natural disaster by Secretary Johanns or designated a major disaster or emergency by President Bush for 2005 calendar year hurricanes Katrina, Ophelia, Wilma or Rita. Counties contiguous to an approved county are also eligible. Counties declared disaster areas by Hurricane Dennis are ineligible for DDAP-II because the legislation did not provide for disaster losses resulting from Hurricane Dennis. A list of eligible counties can be found in the DDAP-II fact sheet.
To be eligible, a dairy producer must have suffered dairy production and spoilage losses from August through December 2005 due to the 2005 hurricanes or related conditions, and suffered the losses in an eligible DDAP-II county.