As agricultural producers across parts of Alabama, Florida and Georgia continue to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Michael, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants to remind producers affected by hurricanes and wildfires last year that signup for assistance through 
the 2017 Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program (2017 WHIP) ends Nov. 16, 2018.
Eligible crops, trees, bushes or vines, located in a county declared in a Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration or Secretarial Disaster Designation as a primary county, are eligible for assistance if the producer suffered a loss as a result of a 2017 hurricane. Also, losses located in a county not designated as a primary county may be eligible if the producer provides documentation showing that the loss was due to a hurricane or wildfire in 2017.
A list of counties that received qualifying hurricane declarations and designations is available at www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/disaster-assistance-program/wildfires-and-hurricanes-indemnity-program/index. Eligibility is determined by Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees.
Typically, 2017 WHIP is only designed to provide assistance for production losses. However, if quality was taken into consideration under the insurance or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program policy, where production was further adjusted, the adjusted production will be used in calculating assistance under this program.
For more information, contact your local USDA service center or visit www.farmers.gov/recover/whip.