RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 19, 2016 - USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds North Carolina producers the final date to apply for crop insurance coverage on many spring crops is fast approaching. The final date to apply for coverage on cabbage, corn, cotton, Flue-cured tobacco, grain sorghum, peanuts, and soybeans is February 28. The final date to apply for coverage on Burley tobacco, fresh market beans, machine-harvested pickling cucumbers, and processing beans is March 15. Current policyholders who wish to make changes to their existing policies also have until the sales closing date to do so.

 

Crop insurance provides protection against a loss in production due to natural perils, such as drought or excessive moisture. Coverage is available for losses in yield on all the crops listed above. Coverage is available for revenue losses caused by a change in the harvest price from the projected price for corn, cotton, grain sorghum, peanuts, and soybeans only. Producers are encouraged to visit their crop insurance agent soon to learn specific details for the 2016 crop year. Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents.

 

A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at 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.