Nov 14, 2013

Crop insurance deadline nears for Michigan growers

USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds Michigan fruit growers interested in buying a new federal crop insurance policy, or making changes to an existing policy, to do so by the Nov. 20 sales closing date. This date is for apple, peach, blueberry, grape and cherry growers.

Apple insurance is available in Allegan, Antrim, Benzie, Berrien, Cass, Clinton, Genesee, Grand Traverse, Iona, Kalamazoo, Kent, Leelanau, Lenawee, Macomb, Manistee, Mason, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Ottawa, Shiawassee, Van Buren and Washtenaw counties.

Blueberry insurance is available in Allegan, Berrien, Muskegon, Ottawa and Van Buren counties.

Grape insurance is available in Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties.

Peach insurance is available in Allegan, Berrien, Kent, Manistee, Mason, Muskegon, Oceana, Ottawa and Van Buren counties.

Cherry insurance is available in Allegan, Antrim, Benzie, Berrien, Charlevoix, Grand Traverse, Kent, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana and Van Buren counties.

Brian Frieden, director of RMA’s Springfield Regional Office, urges producers to contact a crop insurance agent for details. Agents can help new producers determine which policy works best for their operation and review existing coverage to ensure the policy meets their needs.

“Crop insurance protects growers from many different types of risk. For example, apple and peach producers can be protected from losses resulting from frost, drought or summer storms,”Frieden said.

Sweet and tart cherry producers can protect themselves from revenue loss with Actual Revenue History insurance.

Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. Contact a local crop insurance agent for more information about the program. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers or on the RMA website.