USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is considering possible changes to prevented planting crop insurance coverage, and they want feedback from farmers.
Prevented planting is when a producer is unable to plant an insured crop due to an insurable cause of loss in time to grow a viable crop. Final planting dates and late planting periods are detailed in a producer’s crop insurance policy, and they vary by crop and location.
An RMA listening session will be held 1 to 3 p.m. July 12 at the Lenawee County Extension Office in Adrian. No registration is required, but participants are encouraged to bring their comments in writing to the listening session.
A virtual listening session will also be held on June 8. More information is available here. RMA is requesting information on the following topics:
Harvest price option — Feedback on whether to allow the prevented planting payment calculations to be based on the higher of projected price or harvest price under the revenue protection plan of insurance.
“1 in 4” rule — Input on the challenges or experiences since the rule (to be eligible for a prevented planting coverage acreage must have been planted to a crop, insured, and harvested in at least 1 out of the previous four crop years) was implemented nationwide. 10% additional coverage option — Input on if RMA should reinstate the option to buy-up prevented planting coverage by 10%.
Contract price — Whether prevented planting costs are higher for contracted crops and how prevented planting payments should be calculated for contract crops.
General — Willingness to pay additional premium for expanded prevented planting benefits, recommendations on other prevented planting limitations, etc.
“We truly care what our customers – the nation’s agricultural producers – have to say. That’s why we’re hosting listening sessions in 12 states in addition to accepting written comments,” RMA Administrator Marcia Bunger said in a statement.
“We listen to their needs so that we can adapt, improve, and help them manage their risks and provide better opportunities to protect their operations.”
Source: michiganfarmnews.com
Photo Credit: USDA
Categories: Michigan, Crops, Harvesting