RALEIGH, N.C., Feb 8, 2018 – The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds North Carolina cabbage, corn, cotton, flue-cured tobacco, grain sorghum, peanut, and soybean growers that the final date to apply for crop insurance coverage for the 2018 crop year is Feb. 28. Growers who want to purchase a Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) policy also have until Feb. 28. The final date to apply for crop insurance coverage for the 2018 crop year 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.

Federal crop insurance is critical to the farm safety net. It helps producers and owners manage revenue risks and strengthens the rural economy. 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 form the projected price for corn, cotton, grain sorghum, peanuts, and soybeans only. The WFRP policy provides revenue protection. Additional information can be found on the Actuarial Information Browser page on the RMA website.

Growers are encouraged to visit their crop insurance agent soon to learn specific details for the 2018 crop year, including insurance for burley tobacco, cabbage, corn, cotton, flue-cured tobacco, fresh market beans, grain sorghum, machine-harvested pickling cucumbers, peanuts, processing beans, and soybeans, which may be eligible for coverage under a written agreement. Crop insurance coverage decisions must be made on or before the sales closing date.

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.

For more information about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net, visit www.rma.usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).