Farm Service Agency (FSA) has revised criteria for the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) to help with tree/vine/bush loss beyond normal mortality. Earlier, you needed to have a loss of at least 15% to be eligible for the assistance; thankfully, that criterion has been removed. Please note that this is not for crop loss but for the loss of tree/vine/bush due to natural disasters.

Below is an announcement with updated USDA info for TAP. If you believe you qualify, please note the deadline (Oct 7). Also, please don’t remove the tree/vine/bush; FSA would want to see the declining or dead tree/vines. For more details and the application, please use: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/disaster-recovery/tree-assistance-program-tap

Tree Assistance Program Update

If you’re an orchardist or nursery tree grower who experienced losses from natural disasters during calendar year 2026, you must submit a TAP application either 90 calendar days after the disaster event or the date when the loss is apparent.

TAP provides financial assistance to help you replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes and vines damaged by natural disasters.

Eligible tree types include trees, bushes or vines that produce an annual crop for commercial purposes. Nursery trees include ornamental, fruit, nut and Christmas trees that are produced for commercial sale. Trees used for pulp or timber are ineligible.

To qualify for TAP, eligible orchardists and nursery tree growers must suffer a qualifying tree, bush or vine loss from an eligible natural disaster in excess of normal mortality. The Working Families Tax Cut Act removed the 15% loss requirement, and a producer now qualifies for TAP if their loss exceeds the normal mortality for a tree, bush, or vine. For 2026 losses, producers who did not meet the 15% loss requirement but are now eligible must submit an application for payment by the later of Oct. 7, 2026, or 90 days from the date of the disaster event or when the loss is apparent.

Additionally, the reimbursement rate increased to 65% for activities like pruning and removal and the implementation period was extended to 24 months with an option to extend.

The cumulative total quantity of acres planted to trees, bushes or vines, for which you can receive TAP payments, cannot exceed 1,000 acres annually.