Due to the unprecedented flooding and excessive rain this spring, USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) will permit producers to hay or graze cover crops on prevent plant acres as of September 1 instead of waiting until November 1 and still maintain eligibility for prevented planting indemnity.
RMA also is applying the same date to chop cover crops for silage, haylage and baleage.
It is important to note that this change does NOT change what is considered an approved cover crop and insureds must continue to follow all other rules regarding prevented planting and cover crops. For crop insurance purposes, a cover crop is generally recognized by agricultural experts as agronomically sound for the area for erosion control or other purposes related to conservation or soil improvement (approved cover crop types will vary by area).
Additional information regarding cover crops can be found on the RMA website and the NRCS website.
Note: This deadline change applies to 2019 only. Please contact your insurance officer if you have any questions about your crop insurance coverage.
Other USDA agencies also are assisting producers with delayed or prevented planting. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) extended the deadline to report prevented plant acres in select counties, and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is holding special sign-ups for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program in certain states to help with planting cover crops on impacted lands. Contact your local FSA and NRCS offices to learn more.
