Risk Management Agency officials in Spokane, Wash., announced a crop expansion availability of the Multi-Peril Crop Insurance for soybeans, green peas and processing beans for Pacific Northwest producers.

The 2012 crop program expansions and MPCI changes include:

Podded peas under the green pea policy are now insurable in Bannock, Booneville and Jerome counties in Idaho.

Green garbanzo type is now insurable under the processing bean policy in Walla Walla County, Wash.

Soybean MPCI availability has been expanded to Umatilla County, Oregon, and Walla Walla County, Wash.

"These expansions were made as a result of working closely with regional commodity groups and growers to ensure our programs best fit the needs of our producers," says Dave Paul, RMA Spokane office director.

Current PNW policyholders and uninsured growers must make all of their decisions on crop insurance coverage by upcoming regional sales closing dates:

Jan. 31: Final date to obtain or change AGR insurance in select counties in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Final date to submit required documents to continue or change 2012 AGR-Lite insurance for existing policy holders in the PNW

Feb. 2: Final date to obtain or change crop insurance coverage for 2012 spring planted onions in the PNW and cabbage in Oregon and Washington.

March 15: Final date to obtain or change all other spring seeded MPCI (excluding wheat in counties with fall and spring planted types). Final date to obtain 2012 AGR-Lite insurance for new application/enrollment policies in the PNW.

In other changes, billing dates in 2012 for federal crop insurance policies will be Aug. 15, and acreage reporting for most spring crops (excluding wheat and some barley and dry pea counties) will be July 15. Also, 80% and 85% coverage levels are now available for corn and the new soybean counties noted above.