Apple Market Loss Assistance Program

Apple Market Loss Assistance Program

Type	Initiative
Sponsor Organization	Farm Service Agency
Top Organization	Department of Agriculture
Creation Legislation	Public Law 107-171, Section 10105 (2002 Farm Bill)
Website	N/A
Purpose	The Apple Market Loss Assistance Program was designed to provide financial aid to apple producers who suffered revenue losses due to low market prices caused by market loss. The program aimed to offset a portion of the per-bushel losses incurred by apple growers in the United States.
Program Start	2002
Initial Funding	$94 million mandated by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC)
Duration	Specific initiatives ended in 2002 and 2003
Historic	Yes

The Apple Market Loss Assistance Program was an initiative by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help apple producers facing economic hardship due to low apple prices. This program was specifically tailored to address the financial losses experienced by growers in the wake of market downturns, providing direct payments to offset per-bushel losses.

Official Site

Goals

• To compensate apple producers for market-related losses.
• To stabilize the apple industry by providing financial relief to affected growers.

Organization

The program was administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), part of the USDA. The FSA's role was to manage the application process, verify eligibility, and distribute funds. The leadership of this initiative was typically handled by an FSA State Committee or equivalent.

History

The Apple Market Loss Assistance Program was authorized under Section 10105 of the 2002 Farm Bill (Public Law 107-171), aiming to address the market instability affecting apple producers in the early 2000s. It was established to provide immediate relief to apple growers who had seen significant revenue drops. The program was effective for losses incurred during the marketing years of 2000 and 2001, with payments primarily issued in 2002 and 2003.

Funding

The program was funded with $94 million from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), which is a government-owned corporation within the USDA used for implementing farm programs. Funding was specifically allocated for this initiative with no additional funding rounds post-2003, marking the end of the program.

Implementation

The initiative was implemented through a straightforward process where apple growers could apply for assistance based on their documented losses. Payments were calculated based on the difference between the grower's actual market return and a reference price for apples, with a cap on the assistance provided per bushel. The program concluded once all eligible payments were issued.

Funding

• The 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171, Sec. 10105) mandated the payment of $94 million by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) for lost markets in crop year 2000.
• Earlier funding was mandated for the 2000 crop of apples by P.L. 107-76, Sec. 741 ($75 million), and for the 1998 and 1999 apple crops by P.L. 106-387, Sec. 811 ($100 million).

See also

• Market loss assistance

Related

• Farm Service Agency
• 2002 Farm Bill

External links

• No direct links available as this is a historical program.

References

•  This article incorporates public domain material from Jasper Womach, Report for Congress: Agriculture: A Glossary of Terms, Programs, and Laws, 2005 Edition, Congressional Research Service, https://web.archive.org/web/20110810044532/http://ncseonline.org/nle/crsreports/05jun/97-905.pdf