Have you fine-tuned your risk management plan for 2017? Deadline to enroll or make changes to crop insurance is March 15th!
USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds Pennsylvania producers that the final date to apply for crop insurance coverage on most insurable spring-planted crops is March 15. Current policyholders who wish to make changes to their existing policies also have until the March 15 sales closing date to do so.
Crop insurance provides protection against crop production losses due to natural perils such as drought or excessive moisture. Coverage is available for cabbage, corn, forage seeding, fresh market sweet corn, fresh market tomatoes, grain sorghum, green peas, potatoes, processing beans, processing sweet corn, processing tomatoes, soybeans, spring barley, spring oats, and tobacco in Pennsylvania. Coverage is also available for revenue losses caused by a change in the harvest price from the projected price for corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, and spring barley.
Producers are encouraged to visit their crop insurance agent soon to learn specific details for the 2017 crop year. Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator.
Deadline Rundown
- March 15: Deadline to enroll in Crop Insurance and risk management programs with your crop insurance agent
- April 29: Deadline to update your 2017 crop insurance actual production history records to include 2016 yields of spring planted crops with your crop insurance agent
- August 1: Deadline to Enroll in ARC/PLC for 2017 program year
- November 15: Reporting Deadline for Apiculture, Fall Forage Seeding, PRF/Perennial Forage, and Fall-Seeded Small Grains
Early planting dates may vary by county so be sure to check the deadlines specifically for your county. You can find your counties deadline by visiting their website.
You Must Face the Consequences If Not Prepared
Is your risk management plan good enough for 2017? If not, and you fail to enroll in the programs that best fit your operation, you are taking a serious risk. You know how unpredictable Mother Nature can be. Take steps to protect your crops, your operation and your livelihood from the serious consequences Mother Nature can dish out. Take the time to discuss which options are best for you with your crop insurance agent or FSA. When you have this conversation, keep in mind:
- It is your responsibility as a producer to enroll in these programs before the enrollment deadlines.
- Do you have enough insurance to cover each crop individually in the event of a disaster?
- How much protection do you need for each individual crop?
- At what percentage of crop loss should your payment trigger?
Know What Products Are Available
It is your responsibility to develop a plan that protects against the next disaster more than ever.
Contact your crop insurance agent to learn more about what policies will work best for you and your operation. If you don’t have an agent, contact your local Farm Service Agency office or use the Risk Management Agency’s agent locator. Always feel free to call me at 717-787-6901.
Source:psu.edu