California FSA Now Offers Assistance from Losses due to Grapevine Leafroll Disease

The USDA California Farm Service Agency State Committee has approved Grapevine Leafroll Disease (GLD) under the Tree Assistance Program (TAP). Vineyard producers who incurred vineyard losses due to GLD will be able to sign-up under the Tree Assistance Program.

Producers may sign up for Grapevine Leafroll Disease (GLD) at any time in their local county office. The deadline to apply for losses is 90 days after the loss became apparent to the producer. Producers applying for losses due to GLD must adhere to all TAP eligibility requirements.

TAP was authorized by the Agricultural Act of 2014 as a permanent disaster program. TAP provides cost share financial assistance to qualifying orchardists and nursery tree growers to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes and vines damaged by natural disasters or plant disease which now includes Grapevine Leafroll Disease (GLD).

Important: TAP requires preliminary inspections, including environmental compliance, prior to ground disturbance. Producers interested in the TAP program are advised to not conduct any ground disturbance (including, but not limited to, removal of vines, trellis and stakes) prior to obtaining permission from the FSA County Executive Director (CED) where the ground is located. Disturbing the ground prior to release by the CED will result in ineligibility for program benefits.

To qualify for TAP:

• The orchardists must suffer a qualifying tree loss in excess of 15 percent mortality from GLD, plus an adjustment for normal mortality (3%).
• The eligible vineyards must have been owned when the GLD occurred; however, eligible growers are not required to own the land on which the eligible vineyards were planted.
• The owner must provide evidence that trees existed and were lost due to GLD.
• Receipts must be provided for actual expenses associated with removal, purchase and planting of vineyards.
• An individual or entity’s average Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) cannot exceed $900,000
• Other program and payment eligibility may apply

If the TAP application is approved, the eligible vineyards must be replaced within 12 months from the date the application is approved.