Montana FSA Urges Producers to Consider Crop Risk Protection Coverage Before March 15 Spring Deadline

BOZEMAN, Montana, March 11 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency - Montana Field Office issued the following news release:

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director Mike Foster reminds producers to review available USDA crop risk protection options, including federal crop insurance and Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage, before the spring-seeded crop deadline of March 15, 2019.

Federal crop insurance covers crop losses from natural adversities, such as drought, hail and excessive moisture. NAP covers losses from natural disasters on crops for which no permanent federal crop insurance program is available, including forage and grazing crops, fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, floriculture, ornamental nursery, aquaculture, turf grass, ginseng, honey, syrup, bioenergy and industrial crops.

The following crops in Montana have a NAP application deadline of March 15, 2019: all spring crops except spring seeded rye, speltz, triticale, wheat and mixed forage.

"NAP policies allow producers to protect their investment by purchasing coverage for noninsurable crops," Foster said. "Natural disasters are an unavoidable part of farming and ranching and FSA programs like NAP help producers recover when they experience a loss."

NAP basic coverage is available at 55 percent of the average market price for crop losses that exceed 50 percent of expected production. NAP coverage is available for organics and crops marketed directly to consumers.

Federal crop insurance coverage is sold and delivered solely through private insurance agents. Agent lists are available at all USDA service centers or at USDA's online agent locator at http://prodwebnlb.rma.usda.gov/apps/AgentLocator/#. Producers can use the USDA cost estimator at https://ewebapp.rma.usda.gov/apps/costestimator/Default.aspx to predict insurance premium costs.

For more information on NAP, service fees, premiums and sales deadlines, contact the local FSA office or visit www.farmers.gov/recover and/or www.fsa.mt.usda.gov/mt.