04/16/08 Important insurance date for nursery growers

Washington Ag April 16, 2008 May 1st is an important crop insurance deadline for nursery growers. Joe Lynne Seufer with the regional office of USDA's Risk Management Agency says that is the final date to renew current policies on 2009 Nursery Multi-Peril Crop Insurance in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska. Seufer: "It is also a final date for Oregon and Washington producers to obtain a Pilot Nursery Growers Price Endorsement. That is just available to Oregon and Washington growers. But May 1st, again, is the final date to renew those policies." Seufer says nursery insurance numbers continue to grow in the region. Seufer: "Particularly since 2006 when we did a lot of improvements and enhancements to the nursery policy. Back in 2005 we had about 384 million dollars in liability coverage in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. And to date 2008, we have generated over 500 million dollars of participation. So the interest continues grow." Seufer points out that nursery growers who do not have an existing Multi-Peril policy can sign up at any time during the year. A list of crop insurance providers is available at all USDA Service Centers. I'm Bob Hoff.