The USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA) sales closing date for producers considering Multi-Peril Crop Insurance for the 2009 crop year for certain fall-planted crops is Sept. 30.
Michael Alston, Director of the Springfield Regional Office serving Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio, said, "It is important that producers who want to purchase crop insurance (or those who already have crop insurance but want to make a change in their coverage) do so before Sept. 30. Crop policy provisions may change with the start of a new crop year. The producer should review the various products and crop options to ascertain which are best for their situation before this fall crop sales deadline.”
Some of the changes referenced by Alston include provisions addressing determinations of good farming practices and language that clarifies insuring organic farming practices. Alston also emphasized that uncertain markets and unpredictable weather patterns make crop insurance an appropriate safety net for the American producer.
“The April freeze of 2007 and the continuous spring rains of 2008 are a vivid reminder of nature’s influence on the producer and his farming operation. Appropriate crop insurance protection will help producers survive these hardships,” said Alston.
Crops affected by the Sept. 30 sales closing date and their associated states are as follows:
Winter wheat: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio
Winter barley: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio
Forage production: Illinois, Michigan
Mint (with winter coverage): Indiana
Alston stressed the importance of discussing these and other changes with your crop insurance agent. For more information and a list of local crop insurance agents, please visit the RMA website at www.rma.usda.gov/tools/agents.
Waivers of administrative fees for producers who qualify as limited resource farmers are available from all crop insurance companies. Private agents will assist those qualifying producers with determining eligibility for waivers.