USDA reminds farmers of final MPC insurance dates

The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds producers of the fast-approaching spring sales closing dates for Multiple Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) programs. This also includes the whole farm insurance programs Adjusted Gross Revenue Pilot (AGR) and Adjusted Gross Revenue-Lite (AGR-Lite). AGR and AGR-Lite cover most farm-raised crops, animals, and animal products.

January 31, 2013 is the final date to buy or change AGR insurance in select counties in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. This is the final date to submit required documents to continue or change 2013 AGR-Lite insurance for existing policyholders.

February 1, 2013 is the final date to buy or change crop insurance coverage for 2013 spring planted onions in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington and cabbage in Oregon and Washington.

March 15, 2013 is the final date to buy or change all other spring seeded MPCI (excluding wheat in counties with fall and spring planted types). This is the final date to buy 2013 AGR-Lite insurance for new application/enrollment policies.

Current policyholders and uninsured growers must make all of their decisions on crop insurance coverage before the sales closing date. If there is no coverage in a county for a specific crop under the traditional MPCI program, producers may ask a crop insurance agent whether they would be eligible for coverage under a written agreement.

Producers are encouraged to visit with their crop insurance agent to learn specific details for the 2013 crop year. Federal crop insurance policies are sold and delivered solely through private insurance companies and agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA service centers in the United States or on RMA’s Web site at http://www3.rma.usda.gov/tools/agents/.