Due to excess moisture, delayed harvest situations, and freezing temperatures in parts of upper Mid-West and the Pacific Northwest, some sugar beet processors are suspending harvest and delivery of remaining unharvested sugar beets for the 2019 Crop Year. As a result, sugar beets that have not been harvested will likely remain unharvestable due to insurable cause of loss which occurred during the insurance period, such as extremely wet or frozen field conditions.

The 2019 Loss Adjustment Manual (LAM), FCIC-25010, includes procedure for “Bypassed Acreage,” which could be applicable to sugar beets. However, the procedure explicitly states that the crop must have the definition of “Bypassed Acreage” within specific Crop Provisions in order to be applicable. The current Sugar Beet Crop Provisions do not include the definition for “Bypassed Acreage.”

RMA is authorizing the use of “Bypassed Acreage” procedure, found in paragraph 903 of the LAM for sugar beets in all regions for the 2019 Crop Year. Approved Insurance Providers may utilize these procedures, on a case-by-case basis, to assist impacted policyholders and to increase the efficiency of AIP services and determinations when settling these claims.


DISPOSAL DATE:
March 31, 2020