Apples to China & Crop Insurance Deadline

Apples to China & Crop Insurance Deadline. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

Apple Producers received some good news over the weekend as China has finally agreed to open their doors to the U.S. apple industry. There is also a reciprocal agreement to allow Chinese apples into the U.S. but there are hopes that this could at least double the export numbers to China. According Danielle Huber, International Marketing Specialist with the Washington Apple Commission, it will take a while to get the trade deal going,

HUBER: We do have the port issue out there which hopefully will be resolved sooner rather than later but it is going to take anywhere between 30 and 60 days for the Chinese to kind of get their rules published and their import permits issued and then also on the U.S. side. So we have ducks we need to get into a row.

U.S. officials are traveling to China to help promote U.S. apple varieties.

USDA's Risk Management Agency reminds farmers in Idaho, Oregon and Washington that the final date to purchase or modify federal crop insurance coverage on most 2015 spring-planted crops is approaching. Farmers can also purchase the new Whole-Farm Revenue Protection option for 2015 crops. For 2015 spring planted onions in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and cabbage in Oregon and Washington, that date is February 2. The date for all other spring-seeded crops (excluding wheat in counties with fall and spring planted types) is March 16.

That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.