RMA Reminds Growers of Sales Closing Dates for Pasture, Rangeland, Forage Vegetation Index Program

SPOKANE, Wash., October 30, 2012 ----- USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds producers in Idaho and Oregon of the November 15 sales closing dates for the Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF) pilot program, Vegetation Index program, and the Apiculture (API) pilot program for the 2013 crop year. 

The PRF and API pilot programs (available in all counties in Idaho and Oregon) are based on vegetation greenness indices. The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation’s Board of Directors recently approved several changes to the PRF pilot. PRF is designed to give forage and livestock producers the ability to buy insurance protection for losses of forage produced for haying and grazing. The API pilot provides a safety net for beekeepers’ primary income sources – honey, pollen collection, wax, and breeding stock.  

The Vegetation Index allows producers to personalize their policy by choosing a specific 3-month coverage interval, coverage level between 70 to 90 percent and a productivity factor anywhere between 60 and 150 percent of the county base value.  During application, producers will also need to allocate the percentage of the total value for their operation.

Producers can purchase a PRF insurance policy and a USDA Farm Service Agency Non-Insured Assistance Program (NAP) policy on the same acres for the same intended use. They may also earn a PRF indemnity and a NAP payment the same year.   

The PRF and API insurance sales closing date for the 2013 crop year is Thursday, November 15, 2012.  Producers are encouraged to visit with their crop insurance agent soon to learn specific details. When doing so, they should ask their agent about program changes and seek help in reviewing their historical grid information. History for each grid and interval across Idaho and Oregon can be found at http://agforceusa.com/rma/vi/prf/maps. 

Federal crop insurance policies are sold and delivered solely through private insurance companies and agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers in the United States or on RMA’s Web site at http://www3.rma.usda.gov/tools/agents/. 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, complete, sign and mail a program discrimination complaint form, (available at any USDA office location or online at www.ascr.usda.gov), to: United State Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call toll free at (866) 632-9992 to obtain additional information, the appropriate office or to request documents. If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities, contact USDA through the Federal Relay service at (800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136.

Jo Lynne Seufer, Risk Management Specialist
USDA/Risk Management Agency
Spokane Regional Office
(Serving Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington)
11707 East Sprague Ave, #201
Spokane, WA 99206
(509)228-6320 Office
800-205-9953 (in AK, ID, OR, WA) Toll Free
(509)998-6902 Gov't Cell
(509)228-6321 Fax
jo.lynne.seufer@rma.usda.gov
www.rma.usda.gov