LINCOLN, NE, August 19 — "Nebraska farmers, ranchers and landowners who want to be eligible for new farm bill permanent disaster programs may need to act before Tuesday, September 16, 2008 to cover potential 2008 losses," advised Farm Service Agency State Director Milton Rogers. "Local FSA Offices can provide assistance and advice on the new programs."

The new programs compensate for losses under Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) Program, Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), Tree Assistance Program (TAP), and Emergency Assistance Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP).

The 2008 Act requires producers who wish to participate in the new disaster programs to have crop insurance or noninsured crop disaster assistance (NAP) coverage for the land for which assistance is being requested, and for all farms in all counties in which they have an interest.

The 2008 Act authorizes a waiver that allows producers to pay a fee, called a "buy-in" fee, to be eligible for this new disaster assistance. Every producer whose crops, including grazing lands, are not fully covered by crop insurance or NAP may take advantage of this one-time opportunity.

The buy-in fee is due no later than September 16, 2008, 90 days after the date of enactment, as required by the 2008 Act. Those who miss this opportunity will not be eligible for disaster assistance.

Producers are also reminded that the payment of the applicable buy-in fee does not afford the producer crop insurance or NAP coverage; it only provides eligibility for the 2008 disaster programs.

Rogers added "while 2008 crops in Nebraska are generally good, individual producers with production losses should evaluate their 2008 risk management program options by