Producers urged to consider risk protection coverage before fall crop sales deadlines

The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds producers to review available USDA crop risk protection options, including Federal Crop Insurance and Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage, before the fall-seeded crop deadlines of Sept. 30 for winter wheat and forage production and Nov. 15 for PRF pasture rangeland forage.
Federal Crop Insurance covers crop losses from natural adversities such as drought, hail and excessive moisture. NAP covers losses from natural disasters on crops for which no permanent Federal Crop Insurance program is available, including forage and grazing crops, fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, floriculture, ornamental nursery, aquaculture, turf grass, ginseng, honey, syrup, bioenergy and industrial crops.
The 2016 NAP application coverage closing dates are/were: Sept. 1, 2015, — value loss crops, Controlled environment crops and Fall-seeded annual crops (Rye); Sept. 30, — Perennial forage crops and wild rice; Nov. 20, — Perennial fruits and vegetables; Dec. 1, — Honey; March 15, 2016, — Spring-seeded crops and pasture; and May 2, 2016, — Ornamental nursery.
USDA has partnered with Michigan State University and the University of Illinois to create an online tool at www.fsa.usda.gov/nap that allows producers to determine whether their crops are eligible for Federal Crop Insurance or NAP and to explore the best level of protection for their operation. NAP basic coverage is available at 55 percent of the average market price for crop losses that exceed 50 percent of expected production, with higher levels of coverage, up to 65 percent of their expected production at 100 percent of the average market price available, including coverage for organics and crops marketed directly to consumers. Crops intended for grazing are not eligible for additional NAP coverage.
Federal Crop Insurance coverage is sold and delivered solely through private insurance agents. Agent lists are available at all USDA Service Centers or at USDA’s online agent locator: http://prodwebnlb.rma.usda.gov/apps/AgentLocator/#.
Producers can use the USDA Cost Estimator, https://ewebapp.rma.usda.gov/apps/costestimator/Default.aspx, to predict insurance premium costs.
For more information on NAP, service fees, premiums and sales deadlines, contact the Rock County FSA Office at 507-283-2369 or at www.fsa.usda.gov/nap.