fsa.usda.gov/erp

EMERGENCY RELIEF PROGRAM (ERP) 1

FACTSHEET • JULY 2023

Revenue Loss Assistance – Determining Crop Value for Wine Grapes and Forage Crops

EMERGENCY RELIEF PROGRAM PHASE TWO

Overview

FSA’s Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs has updated policy 

for the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase Two to provide

a method for valuing losses and accessing program benefits 

to eligible producers of certain crops . Initially, two crops were 

approved for this method: grapes grown and used by the same 

producer for wine production or forage that is grown, stored, and 

fed to livestock, that do not generate revenue directly from the sale 

of the crop. The updated policy allows producers to include crop 

value in calculating allowable gross revenue to demonstrate the loss 

for approved crops between the benchmark and disaster year.

The Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs has recently 

approved additional crops for this method: 

• fresh apples, cherries, peaches, and plums that producers 

grow and process into cider and wine as part of their ordinary 

operation, and 

• all eligible crops grown for feed, to be stored, and fed to 

livestock on the farm, regardless of how the crop was 

mechanically harvested. This includes barley, corn, and 

soybeans for grain, as well as forage.

Note: Crops for grazing are still ineligible for ERP and cannot be included in 

allowable gross revenue.

Wine Grapes

Wine Grapes: any variety of grapes grown and used by the same 

producer for wine production.

Producers who grow their own wine grapes and process the grapes 

into wine as part of their ordinary operation and do not have sales 

from the wine grapes to include in their allowable revenue can now 

include the value of the crop in their allowable gross revenue for 

both the benchmark and disaster years. The value of the eligible 

crop is based on the producer’s actual production of the crop and 

a price for the crop obtained from National Agricultural Statistics 

Service (NASS) data, and other published prices, such as prices 

from Risk Management Agency (RMA) and Noninsured Crop 

Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and locally published prices 

based on sales for the applicable year. 

Example: 

John Doe Wines, LLC is a wine maker that grows PNO grapes to 

process into wine, they do not sell their grapes. In 2021, John Doe 

Wines, LLC produced 500 tons of actual production. They are 

using published pricing from NASS at $552.50/ton to determine 

the value of the crop at $276,250 for the disaster year.

John Doe Wines, LLC selects 2019 as their 

benchmark year. In 2019, they produced 800 tons 

of PNO grapes and are using a published NASS price 

of $570/ton to determine the value of the crop at 

$456,000 for the benchmark year.

Forage Crops

Forage Crops: vegetation consisting of annual, 

biennial, and perennial grasses, legumes, and small 

grains. 

Producers of forage crops who store the crop and 

feed it to livestock on their farm or ranch and do 

not have revenue from the sale of the portion of 

their crop used for this purpose to include in their 

allowable gross revenue can now include the value of 

the crop in their allowable gross revenue for both the 

benchmark and disaster years. The crop value must be 

based on the producer’s actual production of the crop 

and a price for the crop obtained from NASS data, 

and other published prices, such as prices from RMA 

and NAP and locally published prices based on sales 

for the applicable year. 

Example: 

Jane Doe Ranch is a forage producer that does not 

sell production, it is stored and fed to livestock on the 

ranch as part of their ordinary operation.

In 2021, Jane Doe Ranch produced 2250 tons of 

forage. They are using NASS published pricing at 

$68.00/ton to determine the value of the crop for the 

disaster year at $153,000.

In Benchmark year 2019, Jane Doe Ranch produced 

3000 tons of forage. They are using NASS published 

pricing at $69.17/ton to determine the value of the 

crop for the benchmark year at $207,510.
EMERGENCY RELIEF PROGRAM (ERP) 2

Examples for Added Crops

Eligible crops grown for feed

Producers of all eligible crops who grow, store and feed the 

crop to livestock on their farm or ranch and do not have 

revenue from the sale of the portion of their crop used for 

this purpose to include in their allowable gross revenue can 

now include the value of the crop in their allowable gross 

revenue for both the benchmark and disaster years. The crop 

value must be based on the producer’s actual production 

of the crop and a price for the crop obtained from NASS 

data, and other published prices, such as prices from RMA 

and NAP and locally published prices based on sales for the 

applicable year.

Example:

Producer B grows a portion of his corn for grain to store 

and use as feed as part of his ordinary operation. Producer 

B does not have revenue from sales for this portion of the 

corn for grain to include in allowable gross revenue and may 

include the crop value for the portion of the crop grown for 

feed in allowable gross revenue. 

In 2020, Producer B produced 500 bushels of actual 

production for feed. He is using RMA pricing of $3.88 per 

bushel to determine the crop value at $1,940 for the disaster 

year. Producer B is using 2019 as the benchmark year. He 

had 800 bushels of actual production in 2019 and is using 

RMA pricing of $4.00 per bushel to establish the crop value 

at $3,200 for the benchmark year. 

Fresh Apples, Cherries, Peaches, and Plums

Producers of apples, cherries, peaches and plums, who grow 

and process these crops into cider or wine as part of their 

ordinary operation and do not have sales from the crops to 

include in their allowable revenue, can now include the value 

of the crop in their allowable gross revenue for both the 

benchmark and disaster years. The value of the eligible crop is 

based on the producer’s actual production of the crop and a 

price for the crop obtained from National Agricultural Statistics 

Service (NASS) data, and other published prices, such as prices 

from Risk Management Agency (RMA) and Noninsured Crop 

Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and locally published prices 

based on sales for the applicable year.

Example:

Producer A grows peaches to process into cider as part of 

her ordinary operation. Producer A does not have revenue 

from selling the peaches to include in allowable gross 

revenue and may include the crop value in her allowable 

gross revenue.

In 2021, Producer A produced 200 bushels of actual 

production. She is using NASS pricing of $25.00 per bushel 

to determine the crop value at $5,000 for the disaster year. 

Producer A is using 2019 as her benchmark year. She had 

350 bushels of actual production in 2019 and is using NASS 

pricing of $33.00 per bushel to establish the crop value at 

$11,550 for the benchmark year. 

Example:

Producer A grows peaches to process into cider as part of 

her ordinary operation. Producer A does not have revenue 

from selling the peaches to include in allowable gross 

revenue and may include the crop value in her allowable 

gross revenue.

In 2021, Producer A produced 200 bushels of actual 

production. She is using NASS pricing of $25.00 per bushel 

to determine the crop value at $5,000 for the disaster year. 

Producer A is using 2019 as her benchmark year. She had 

350 bushels of actual production in 2019 and is using NASS 

pricing of $33.00 per bushel to establish the crop value at 

$11,550 for the benchmark year. 

For More Information 

For more information, view the ERP Phase Two Fact Sheet, 

ERP Phase Two application video tutorial and 

myth-buster blog.

For FSA programs, producers should contact their local 

USDA Service Center.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

FACTSHEET • JULY 2023