FACT SHEET

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FARM SERVICE AGENCY

Page 1

February 2011

 Asparagus Revenue Market Loss Assistance Payment (ALAP) Program

Overview

USDA Farm Service Agency’s 

(FSA) Asparagus Revenue Market 

Loss Assistance Payment (ALAP) 

Program compensates producers 

for revenue losses resulting from 

imports during the 2004 through 

2007 crop years. Eligible asparagus 

producers will receive a market loss 

payment based upon the marketing category of their 2003 crop of 

asparagus. 

The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) 

authorizes the Commodity Credit 

Corporation (CCC) to provide up to 

$15 million in market loss payments 

to 2003-crop asparagus producers.

This fact sheet describes key ALAP 

provisions, which were detailed in 

a Federal Register notice published 

Feb. 4, 2011.

ALAP Limited Funding

The 2008 Farm Bill requires an allocation of the $15 million in CCC 

funds for the market loss payments 

as follows: 

•	 $7,500,000 for fresh-market 

asparagus production and;

•	 $7,500,000 for processed or 

frozen market asparagus production.

 A reserve of allocated funds, determined by CCC, will be retained for 

each marketing category to handle 

disputed claims and appeals.

Eligible Asparagus Producers

 To qualify for ALAP, producers 

must: 

•	 Have produced and marketed 

asparagus in commercial quantities in the U.S. during both

crop years 2003 and 2007, and;

•	 Meet highly erodible land and 

wetland provisions.

Additional ALAP payment eligibility requirements will apply for the 

applicable marketing category that 

exceeds available funding.

Eligible Pounds of Asparagus 

Production

ALAP payments will be calculated 

based upon an eligible producer’s 

2003 asparagus production quantity 

for fresh-marketed and/or process or 

frozen market asparagus.

ALAP Maximum Payment Rates

Maximum payment rates have been 

determined according to the following table:

Marketing 

Category

Maximum 

Payment Rate

Processed or 

Frozen Market -

Crop Asparagus

$1.08 per pound

Fresh-Crop 

Asparagus

$1.06 per pound

Marketing Category Exceeds 

Available Funding

If the total value of ALAP payments 

for a marketing category exceeds 

available funding, then the following will be applicable: 

•	 The applicable marketing category maximum payment rate 

will be factored;

•	 ALAP payments are subject to 

a $100,000 payment limitation 

for the applicable marketing 

category;

•	 Producer’s average adjusted 

gross income (AGI) must be 

less than $2.5 million for the 

three taxable years of 2003 

to 2005 to be eligible for that 

marketing category ALAP payment type.

Sign-up Period

Sign-up for the ALAP begins on 

Feb. 7, 2011, and ends on April 8, 

2011.

How to Apply

Asparagus producers must submit 

form CCC-895, (ALAP Program 

Application), to their local FSA 

county office. The form is available

at FSA county offices and online at: 

http//www.fsa.usda.gov/alap.

For More Information

More information on ALAP is available at local FSA offices and on

FSA’s Web site at: http://www.fsa.

usda.gov

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 

prohibits discrimination in all of its programs 

and activities on the basis of race, color, national 

origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, 

marital status, familial status, parental status, 

religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, genetic information, reprisal, or because all of part 

of an individual’s income is derived from any 

public assistance program. (Not all bases apply 

to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who 

require alternative means for communication of 

program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET 

Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). 

To file a complaint of discrimination, write to

USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights,

1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, 

Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call toll-free 

at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 

(TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (English Federalrelay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federalrelay). USDA is an equal opportunity provider 

and employer.