Micheal Clements, NAFB News Service

The Department of Agriculture says farmers in the federal crop insurance program facing harvest delays should contact their Approved Insurance Provider. USDA says those farmers should file a Notice of Loss and request more time to harvest. Producers in several states, including Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, have been affected by extremely wet and snowy conditions early this fall. Martin Barbre, Administrator of USDA’s Risk Management Agency, says, “producers covered by Federal crop insurance should contact their insurance agent as soon as possible to determine what actions they can take.” Producers must file a Notice of Loss and request more time to harvest before the end of the insurance period, so that federal crop insurance claims are settled based on the amount of harvested production. The end of the insurance period for crops such as spring-planted wheat and barley is October 31, and for corn and soybeans is December 10. Insurance providers may allow additional time to harvest, on a case-by-case basis, under specific circumstances.