SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — USDA’s Risk Management Agency reminds producers considering Multi-Peril Crop Insurance for the 2010 crop year that the sales closing date is Sept. 30 for certain fall-planted crops.
Brian Frieden, director of the Springfield Regional Office serving Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio, stated, “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.”
Changes
Some of the changes include provisions addressing determinations of good farming practices and language that clarifies insuring organic farming practices.
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 and 2009 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 Frieden.
Crops
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.
Frieden stressed the importance of discussing these and other changes with your crop insurance agent.
More information
For more information and a list of local crop insurance agents, visit 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.
