Crop Insurance Deadline Nears in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina

WASHINGTON, April 17 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Risk Management Agency's Valdosta Regional Office issued the following news release:

USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina nursery growers of the upcoming May 1 sales closing date. Current policyholders who wish to make changes to their existing coverage also have until the May 1 sales closing date to do so. Growers applying for the first time may purchase coverage at any time.

Crop insurance provides protection against a loss in production due to natural perils such as wind, hurricane, and freeze. More information on nursery crop insurance is available at RMA's Nursery Policy (http://www.rma.usda.gov/policies/nursery/index.html) page.

All applications, including those for new or amended coverage, are subject to a 30-day waiting period before coverage begins. Coverage begins 30 days after receipt of a signed application, Plant Inventory Value Report for each insured practice, and two copies of the grower's most recent wholesale catalog or price list.

Growers are encouraged to visit their crop insurance agent soon to learn specific details for the 2018 crop year. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator (http://www.rma.usda.gov/tools/agent.html). Growers can use the RMA Cost Estimator (https://ewebapp.rma.usda.gov/apps/costestimator/) to get a premium amount estimate of their insurance needs online. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at www.rma.usda.gov.