Mar 2, 2017

Michigan risk protection coverage deadlines soon approaching

USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Program Specialist Benjamin Belkholm reminds producers to review available USDA crop risk protection options, including federal crop insurance and Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage, before the spring-seeded crop deadline of March 15.

“NAP policies allow producers to protect their investment by purchasing coverage for noninsurable crops,” said Belkholm. “Natural disasters are an unavoidable part of farming and ranching and FSA programs like NAP help producers recover when they experience a loss.”

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.

“With the second most diverse agriculture economy in the country, it is challenging to list all of the crops that fall under the March 15 sales closing date for NAP in Michigan,” said Belkholm. “If farmers are curious if their crops are covered by NAP, they are welcome to contact their local FSA office to find out.”

The following crops in Michigan have a NAP application deadline of March 15, 2017: amaranth grain, spring-planted barley, beans, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, buckwheat, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, clover seed, yellow corn, sweet corn, popcorn, blue corn, cucumbers, eggplant, flax, garlic, greens, herbs, honeydew, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, millet, oats, okra, parsnip, peas, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, rutabaga, sorghum, sorghum forage, soybeans, squash, sugar beets, sunflowers, tomatillos, tomatoes, turnips, watermelons and other spring planted annual crops.

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.

For more information on NAP, service fees, premiums and sales deadlines, contact your local County FSA Service Center or visit the web at www.fsa.usda.gov/nap.