Florida Citrus Recovery Block Grant Program

The CRBG Program is broken into three parts with a total of $340 Million available. Funding is available for the following:

Part 1: Tree Resets, Grove Rehabilitation, and Irrigation System Repair/Replacement

• Producers may be reimbursed for activities conducted from September 10, 2017 up until the date of their application for impacted groves including tree resets, rehabilitation or replacement; irrigation and drainage system repair, etc.

• Up to $385.00/acre is available to eligible producers who experienced at least 20% crop production loss because of Hurricane Irma.

• To receive funding, producers must provide documentation, including invoices and cancelled checks, to show proof of expense and proof of payment for grove rehabilitation activities.
• Funding will be made available in late Fall 2018

Part 2: Future Economic Losses

• Up to $745.50/acre for expected citrus losses for future crop years is available to eligible producers who experienced at least 40% crop production loss because of Hurricane Irma.
• Three total payments may be distributed over crop years 2019, 2020 and 2021 upon the completion of the following:
• Fall 2018 Site Inspection – up to $372.75/acre
• Proof of purchase for 2020 tree and fruit insurance – up to $186.38/acre
• Proof of purchase for 2021 tree and fruit insurance – up to $186.38/acre

Part 3: Crop Insurance Purchase Requirements (subject to availability of funds)

• Funding may be available for producers to purchase crop insurance premiums and administrative fees for crop years 2020 and 2021.
• Producers who elect to purchase crop insurance for four (4) years, rather than minimum requirement of two (2) years, may be reimbursed for producer-paid premiums and administrative fees associated with crop years 2020 and 2021.
• Up to 2 payments may be disbursed upon submittal of the following documentation:
• Proof of purchase for 2022 crop year insurance – award amount TBD
• Proof of purchase for 2023 crop year insurance – award amount TBD

Participation in the Florida Citrus Recovery Block Grant requires producers to purchase Federal crop insurance for both the 2020 and 2021 crop years at a minimum 60 percent level where insurance is available. If you participate in Part 1, you are required to obtain tree insurance. If you participate in Part 2, you are required to obtain fruit insurance.

Where Federal crop insurance is not available, producers must purchase NAP coverage for both

the 2020 and 2021 crop years at a minimum 60 percent coverage level. If NAP coverage at the 60 percent coverage level is unavailable, producers will be required to obtain basic 50/55 NAP coverage for both the 2020 and 2021 crop years. A producer may obtain a level of coverage greater than 60 percent, but the State shall only assist in the purchase at the 60 percent level.

Reminder: Citrus Crop Insurance Deadline Approaching

Participation in the block grant requires the applicant to purchase tree and/or fruit insurance in two year or four-year options. The grant requires 60% coverage level, per the block grant agreement, unless otherwise unavailable. Participation in the different parts of the program requires the
following insurance –

• Part 1 (20% Production Loss) - Tree insurance is required.
• Part 2 (40% Production Loss) - Crop (fruit) insurance is required.
  
  

APH Policy Available to CRBG Applicants

Citrus Recovery Block Grant (CRBG) applicants who selected to participate in Part 3, Option 2 Insurance for the CRBG program (“maintaining tree/crop insurance for crop years 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023”) may elect to purchase a new insurance coverage option available to Florida citrus producers. This new insurance coverage is called the Actual Production History program (“APH”). 

The APH program is effective for the 2022 and succeeding crop years and is available in the same counties where the current ‘Dollar Plan of Insurance’ program is offered. Coverage levels must still meet the 60% minimum requirement in order to maintain CRBG compliance and eligibility standards. 

The deadline to sign up for this insurance option is on November 1, 2020; significantly earlier than other 2022 insurance purchase dates.

See below:

The following commodities will be insurable under the new Florida Citrus APH plan:

Grapefruit

Lemons

Mandarins/Tangerines

Oranges

Tangelos

Tangors

If a producer is unsure of their eligibility to the block grant or their 2018 production loss, they are encouraged to contact the CRBG Hotline at 863-800-0342 or 863-410-0925 or email citrus@em.myflorida.com.

Please contact a crop insurance agent for information on crop insurance availability and sales closing dates specific to your location and crop.

Agent Locator: https://www.rma.usda.gov/tools/agent.html

Producers may apply to the CRBG Program online, by phone, or in-person. To schedule an in-person or phone appointment to complete an application, please contact us at –

Citrus Recovery Block Grant Hotline: 863-800-0342 or 863-410-0925

Citrus Recovery Block Grant email: citrus@em.myflorida.com

A State staff member will contact you promptly to assist you in completing an application or answer any questions you may have. If you would like to complete an application in-person, staff are stationed throughout the State at USDA FSA Offices and are available for appointments.

To apply online, please download the Program Application Packet and take the time to read over the materials. You may either fill out the application digitally, or print the application to be manually complete, scan and submit.  

Be sure to fill out the application completely; an incomplete application may not be processed for payment until it is completely filled. State staff are available by phone to answer any questions you may have. A completed application includes the following elements:

• CRBG Application (Form DEM- CRBG-01)
• Part 1 Summary of Documentation Form (Form DEM- CRBG-02)
• Scanned copies of all Proof of Expense and corresponding Proof of Payment listed in the Part 1 Summary Documentation Form
• FSA WHIP Application Forms –
  1. FSA-890, WHIP Application - signed by the producer and FSA County Committee
  2. FSA-578, Detailed Farm and Tract Listing
  3. WHIP Estimated Calculated Payment Report
• Copy of Registration Summary for MyFloridaMarketPlace Vendor Payment System.
• The following additional documentation may be required, if applicable –
  1. Power of Attorney, if application is submitted by an Authorized Applicant Agent
  2. Property Lease, if subject groves are leased

All application elements may be submitted online to citrus@em.myflorida.com.

Payments through the program will occur through the State of Florida’s MyFloridaMarketPlace vendor payment system. Registration in the State payment system requires two steps – 1) Register in the MyFloridaMarketPlace Vendor Information Portal; and 2) Submit a Substitute W-9 Form through the and the MyFloridaCFO State Vendor Website. Please see the ‘How to Receive a Program Payment’ fact sheet available on the right side of this page for how to apply to both websites for assistance. Producers may receive a hard copy check or direct deposit. Any fees associated with these systems will be waived.

Documentation Required for Payment:

In order to comply with Federal and State requirements, DEM will require the following documentation prior to payment:

ALL PARTS          

• WHIP Application signed by Applicant and FSA County Committee
• Completed and signed Block Grant Application and associated documentation

Part 1                    

• Proof of expenses AND proof of payment, i.e. invoices and cancelled checks.
• Signed Part 1 Summary of Documentation Form (DEM-CRBG-02).                   

Part 2                  

• Fall 2018 site inspection (for 1^st Part 2 Payment)
• Proof of purchase for 2020 tree and crop insurance (for 2^nd Part 2 Payment)
• Proof of purchase for 2021 tree and crop insurance (for 3^rd Part 2 Payment)

Part 3

• Proof of purchase for 2022 crop year insurance
• Proof of purchase for 2023 crop year insurance

For additional help, please consult the Producer Frequently Asked Questions document, or if further help is needed, contact field staff with your questions through the phone number or email provided above.

For more inquiries concerning Florida Citrus Recovery Block Grant Program, contact us by phone at 863-800-0342 or or 863-410-0925, or email at citrus@em.myflorida.com.