USDA Extends Deadline for Applications for PARP/ERP2

Producers were given a reprieve last week related to applications for Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP) and Emergency Relief Program Phase Two (ERP2) programs.  Applications for the program opened on January 23, 2023 and were scheduled to close on June 2, 2023.  However, the USDA has extended that deadline to July 14, 2023 to give producers more time to accumulate information and apply.

In addition to the assistance provided by the local FSA office, the USDA has also identified nine organizations that will provide free assistance to producers to complete applications.  These organizations include:

• Alabama State Association of Cooperatives
• Farmers Legal Action Group, INC.
• Flower Hill Institute
• Intertribal Agriculture Council, Inc
• North South Institute
• Renewing the Countryside II
• Rural Advancement Foundation International – USA
• Rural Coalition
• Texas Small Farmers and Ranchers CBO

In the USDA’s press release they noted, “Partnering with these organizations through cooperative agreements provides additional educational and technical assistance to producers who may need help with the Emergency Relief Program Phase Two application process. The deadline extension gives producers more time to locate and work with these organizations to complete their program application.”   Providers are available to assist through online meeting software as well.  However, the organizations will not collect producer records, complete or sign the application form or act on the producers’ behalf.  Recipients of ERP payments are also statutorily required to purchase crop insurance.

Eligibility for ERP2 requires a producer to have suffered a decrease in gross revenue in 2020 or 2021 due to necessary expenses related to the loss of eligible crops from a qualifying natural disaster.

To be eligible for PARP the producer must have had a 15% or greater decrease in allowable gross revenue form the 2020 calendar year when compared to a baseline year (either 2018 or 2019).

Review your records accordingly.   In most cases, eligibility comes down to the mere timing of crop sales, not the actual earnings for the year.