08/02/07 Mint crop insurance expansion; more blueberries

Washington Ag August 2, 2007 The Risk Management Agency Spokane regional office has announced the expanded availability of Federal Crop Insurance Corporation's Mint Crop Insurance Program. RMA's Jo Lynne Seufer says basically the Mint pilot program was converted to a permanent program. That means instead of just the two northwest counties that had coverage last year the insurance is now available in seventeen additional counties in the Pacific Northwest. Seufer: "In Washington it's availability in Adams, Benton, Franklin, Grant and Yakima. The 2008 sales closing date for mint with winter coverage options is Monday October 1, otherwise basic coverage can be purchased until March 17th 2008." RMA is also reminding producers of an upcoming sales closing date. That is August 31st for fall planted type canola and rapeseed and fall planted onions for Walla Walla and Umatilla counties. The Washington Blueberry Commission expects this year's crop to be up about nine percent over last year to 20 million pounds. It says fresh berries should be available through mid-September. Most of the blueberries are grown in western Washington although some farms started producing them near Yakima, the Tri-Cities and Chelan. I'm Bob Hoff.