Florida Agriculture Dept.: 2022 Crop Insurance Deadline Nears in Fla.

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, April 2 -- The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services issued the following news release:

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Risk Management Agency (USDA RMA) remind Florida Nursery Value Select growers that the final date to apply for crop insurance coverage for the 2022 crop year is May 1. Current policyholders who wish to make changes to their existing coverage also have until the May 1, 2021 sales closing date to do so. Growers applying for the first time may purchase coverage at any time.

"As Florida's nursery growers continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, we thank our federal partners for making available resources to protect their livelihoods and help their agricultural businesses thrive," said Commissioner Fried. "We encourage our nursery growers to get informed and take advantage of this coverage before the deadline."

Federal crop insurance is critical to the farm safety net. It helps producers and owners manage revenue risks and strengthens the rural economy. Coverage is available for Nursery Value Select growers in select Florida counties. Please contact your insurance agent to see if your county is covered. Coverage begins 30 days after receipt of a signed application and approval of required documents. For Nursery Value Select coverage, a Nursery Value Report, Monthly Unit Value Plan, and two copies of the grower's most recent catalog are required. More information on nursery crop insurance is available at RMA's Nursery Policy Web Page.

Growers are encouraged to visit their crop insurance agent soon to learn specific details for the 2022 crop year. RMA is authorizing additional flexibilities due to coronavirus while continuing to support producers, working through Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs) to deliver services, including processing policies, claims, and agreements. RMA staff are working with AIPs and other customers by phone, mail, and electronically to continue supporting crop insurance coverage for producers. Farmers with crop insurance questions or needs should continue to contact their insurance agents about conducting business remotely (by telephone or email). More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.

Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available online using the RMA Agent Locator. Producers can use the RMA Cost Estimator 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.