Another decision-making deadline looms for farmers

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Farmers have yet another deadline. Row crop producers must make all crop insurance decisions for spring crops by Feb. 28. Growers have until then to decide if they want to purchase crop insurance, reinstate crop insurance, which crops they want to insure and their levels of coverage for the 2015 crop insurance year, said Henry English, director, Small Farm Program at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

Arkansas row crops affected by the Feb. 28 date are corn, cotton, soybeans, rice, grain sorghum, peanuts and fresh market tomatoes. Arkansas tomato growers can also purchase crop insurance even though fresh market tomatoes are not a row crop. Tomato growers have until March 15, to do so, he said.

Crop insurance provides protection against crop production losses due to natural disasters such as drought, hail, excessive moisture.

A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers or online at the RMA Agent Locator.

For additional information on crop insurance, contact Travis Johnson at (601) 965-4771.

The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Program offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

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