Deadlines Near for Forage Risk Management Programs in Maine
The sales closing dates for 3 Federal risk
management programs is approaching, programs include:
1. Forage Production Crop Insurance. September 30, 2016
is the final date to purchase Forage Production Crop Insurance for forage
seeded in the spring of 2016. Coverage
begins on May 22, 2017 on acreage that has an adequate forage stand. To be eligible for this insurance, the stand
must be pure alfalfa; alfalfa and perennial grass where 60% or more of the
ground cover is alfalfa; or mixed alfalfa and perennial grass where alfalfa
makes up more than 25% but less than 60% of the ground cover. Insurance protects against a decline in your
Average Production History (APH) yield due to adverse weather conditions including
hail, frost, freeze, wind, drought, and excess precipitation; wildlife damage;
insect damage and plant disease, except for insufficient or improper
application of control measures. Crop
insurance premiums are subsidized based on the coverage level selected.
Coverage levels range from 50 to 75% of
your APH at 100% of the price election. The
price election for the 2017 crop year is $184 per ton. Forage Production Crop Insurance is available
in Aroostook and Penobscot counties and is available outside of these counties
through a written agreement.
2. Pasture, Rangeland, Forage Pilot Crop Insurance. November 15, 2016 is
the final date to purchase this crop insurance for the 2017 insurance year. This program is a new crop insurance option for Maine producers, providing
protection of pasture, hay, and hayland against a single peril, drought. No
historical production records are required. Losses are determined by comparing
reported precipitation over a 2-month insured period to 50 years of historical
rainfall data. Both reported and historical rainfall data are from the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Center (NOAA CPC).
Crop insurance is sold and delivered
solely through private crop insurance agents.
A list of crop insurance agents is available online at the RMA Agent
Locator (http://www.rma.usda.gov/tools/agent.html). Producers can use
the RMA Cost Estimator (https://ewebapp.rma.usda.gov/apps/costestimator/) to get a premium amount estimate of their insurance needs
online.
3. Non-insured
Crop Disaster Assistance (NAP) for Hay Crops. September 30, 2016 is the final date to
purchase the NAP program for hay. This
program protects your APH from natural disasters that results in lower yields
or quality. Coverage level options
include the catastrophic level and up to 50-65% of your APH at 100% of the
average market price. This program is
administered and sold by the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA). Contact your local FSA office (http://www.fsa.usda.gov/state-offices/Maine/index) to learn more.
The University of Maine
Cooperative Extension is in cooperation with the USDA Risk Management Agency to
deliver crop insurance education to all Maine farmers. Visit our website at https://extension.umaine.edu/agriculture/maine-risk-management-and-crop-insurance-education-program/. For questions
please contact Erin Roche, Crop Insurance Education Program Manager, 495
College Avenue, Orono ME, 04473 (949.2490; erin.roche@maine.edu).
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