VIDALIA — Tuesday is the last day for local farmers to buy into the federal disaster assistance programs.

Should the area in which they farm be declared a disaster, the buy-in will allow farmers to be eligible for any 2008 federal disaster assistance programs Catahoula Parish was declared a disaster area following Hurricane Gustav, and though it is not a declared disaster area, Concordia Parish suffered significant crop losses.

Because the 2008 farm bill passed after the sign up period ended for some insurance, the buy-in is also for farmers who did not get crop insurance this year. The administrative fee for the buy-in is $100 per commercial enterprise, including pastures.

The buy-in is through the Farm Service Agency crop insurance program.

If the area is declared a disaster at some point in 2008, those who bought into the program and experienced losses will be eligible for benefits under the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program, the Livestock Forage Disaster Program, the Tree Assistance Program and the Emergency Assistance Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program.

Another way the farm service can help farmers is by providing emergency loans to help them recover from a declared disaster.

To qualify for the loans, a farmer must have suffered a loss of at least 30 percent, Farm Loan Manager for Concordia Parish’s FSA office Calvin Adams said at a meeting with local farmers last Tuesday.

In Concordia Parish, the FSA office is located at 8331 U.S. 84, in Ferriday, and can be reached at 318-757-4870.