Pesticide Surveys, Specialty Crop Caucus, & RMA Deadlines

Pesticide Surveys, Specialty Crop Caucus, & RMA Deadlines

I’m Lacy Gray with Washington Ag Today.

Over the last couple of weeks, more than 15,000 homeowners in twelve counties around the Puget Sound area have received a pesticide survey from the WSDA and NASS. Prompted by a 2011 Department of Ecology study, which identified urban use of agricultural products as a potentially significant source of copper to freshwater and marine areas in the Puget Sound basin, the survey is an effort to gather information on what pesticides homeowners use and how they use them.

Doc Hastings, U.S. Representative for Washington’s 4th congressional district, will co-chair a Congressional Specialty Crop Caucus, which will endeavor to raise awareness about issues faced by specialty crop growers and processors. Hastings stated that “Central Washington specialty crop growers provide top-quality produce to consumers in the United States and around the world”, and he is “pleased that the Specialty Crop Caucus will provide a way to promote policies that help these growers continue to succeed."

Multi Peril Crop Insurance policies for many spring crops were changed in 2011 to simplify the application process and give choices of yield and revenue protection for producers insuring corn, canola/rapeseed, feed barley, malting barley, and certain types of dry peas and lentils. USDA’s Risk Management Agency would like to remind corn producers of the several options they have available through MPCI. Risk Management Specialist, Jo Lynne Seufer, also has this reminder for producers.

SEUFER: That’s our March 15th sales closing date for all other spring seeded crops, and also the final date to obtain new Adjusted Gross Revenue Lite policies.

For more information producers should visit with their crop insurance agent.

I’m Lacy Gray and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Ag Information Network.