Expanded Availability of Alfalfa Seed Multi-Peril Crop Insurance

Expanded Availability of Alfalfa Seed Multi-Peril Crop Insurance

I’m KayDee Gilkey with the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report.

Good news for alfalfa seed producers in the Pacific Northwest that grow seed outside the USDA Risk Management Agency’s pilot program area. Coverage has been expanded for the Multi-Peril Crop Insurance for alfalfa seed to include any qualifying producers throughout Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

Prior to crop year 2012, the pilot program only allowed for coverage availability to producers in limited areas, in Idaho: Canyon and Owyhee counties; Oregon only in Malheur County and Washington: Grant and Walla Walla counties.
With the pilot program being approved as a permanent regulatory program, extended coverage is now available. For the 2013 crop year, producers outside the county pilot areas may request MPCI protection for their alfalfa seed crop.

Dave Paul, Regional Director for USDA Risk Management Agency, says it is important to get the word out about the expansion of the program.

Paul: “What we would like folks to know is if you are not in one of those counties where we filed documents, but you are growing alfalfa seed and you want to get coverage for your alfalfa seed. Go to your local crop insurance agent before Oct. 1st and request coverage via what we call a written agreement. We can provide an insurance coverage offer to the grower, that he can either choose to accept or not accept based on what he gets back for a grower in any other county that is growing alfalfa seed.”

I’m KayDee Gilkey with the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.