Florida Citrus Recovery Grant Program for Hurricane Irma

The Florida Citrus Recovery Grant Program (CRGP) is available to citrus producers who maintain an active citrus farming operation and who suffered citrus crop damage as a result of Hurricane Irma. In order to qualify for CRGP, producers must first apply for the Federal 2017 USDA Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program (WHIP). Producers receiving assistance under either CRGP or WHIP must obtain federal crop insurance for crop years 2020 and 2021. Total payments from insurance, WHIP and the CRGP shall not exceed 85 percent of total losses identified by WHIP for insured applicants or 65 percent of total losses identified by WHIP for uninsured applicants.  Payments will be delivered through the state of Florida’s My Florida Marketplace vendor payment system via direct deposit or hard-copy check.

THREE-PART PROGRAM

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA), Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) developed the CRGP. The amount of available grant funding is capped at $340,000,000 for approximately 400,000 acres. FDEM will administer the funds, which are available for the following purposes:

Part 1: Tree Resets, Grove Rehabilitation and Irrigation System Repair/Replacement (estimated $129,000,000)

• Crop production loss of at least 20 percent due to Hurricane Irma;
• Up to $385.00/acre for tree reset, rehabilitate or replacement, irrigation and drainage system repair, etc.;
• Available fall 2018; and,
• Documentation required (see below).

Part 2: Future Economic Losses (estimated $182,000,000)

• Crop production loss of at least 40 percent due to Hurricane Irma;
• Application with supporting documentation for Part 1 required;
• Up to $745.50/acre for expected citrus losses for crop years in 2019 and 2020; and,
• Up to three payments total:

1. Fall 2018 site inspection – up to $372.75/acre
2. Proof of purchase for 2020 crop insurance – up to $186.38/acre
3. Proof of purchase for 2021 crop insurance – up to $186.38/acre

Part 3: Crop Insurance Purchase Requirements (subject to availability of funds and estimated $29,000,000)

• Payment following crop insurance premiums for crop years 2022 and 2023
• Up to two payments total:

1. Proof of purchase for 2022 crop insurance – TBD and
2. Proof of purchase for 2023 crop year insurance – TBD

APPLICATION PROCESS

The application cycle is tentatively scheduled to open on Sept.10, 2018. Producers may apply online at www.floridadisaster.org or by appointment at the FSA locations listed below:

• Polk County
• Osceola County
• Hardee County
• Okeechobee County
• Moore Haven
• Fort Myers
• Royal Palm Beach
• Fort Pierce

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

In order to comply with federal and state requirements, FDEM will require the following documentation prior to payment:

Source: Highlands County Citrus Growers Association