USDA’s Risk Management Agency urges farmers to sign up for crop insurance before the sales closing date for eligible 2019 spring crops. Last year’s natural disasters across the country are a reminder that agriculture is an inherently risky business.

The sales closing date for most spring-planted crops is March 15. This also is the last date for insured producers to make changes to their crop insurance coverage for the 2019 crop year, including increasing coverage levels or adding options.

“Crop insurance is increasingly viewed as providing the cornerstone for active risk management programs, and its importance is elevated in environments with higher input costs and greater margin risk that we’re seeing in 2019,” says Janna Fritz, crop insurance manager with Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan.

Fritz said that passage of the 2018 Farm Bill maintained a reliable, affordable and sustainable crop insurance program for farmers during a time of volatile markets and weather risks.

Farmers should visit their crop insurance agent to discuss new options such as the multi-county enterprise unit coverage for 2019 crops. Coverage is available for nearly every commodity, including fruits, vegetables and organic, with crop specific plans or the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection policy.

Sales closing dates vary by crop, state and county. More information about deadlines is available in the RMA actuarial browser. To discuss dates and options, producers should contact their local agent. Learn more at www.rma.usda.gov.

Source: Michigan Farm Bureau, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.