The Federal Crop Insurance Corp. (FCIC) has rescinded it previous harvest date restriction of Nov. 1 for cover crops planted on prevent plant acres as it relates to haying, grazing, or cutting for silage, haylage, or baleage, effective for the 2021 and succeeding crop years.
According to Farm Bureau Insurance Crop Insurance Manager Kevin Robson, widespread weather events such as flooding, excessive rainfall, and drought over recent years have resulted in significant prevented planting claims under the federal crop insurance program.
“Given these extreme weather patterns and the need to provide producers ample opportunities to protect their fields from potential erosion, USDA’s Risk Management Agency has re-evaluated the interaction between cover crops and the Federal crop insurance program,” Robson said.
Under previous FCIC guidelines, cover crops planted on prevent plant acres were considered a second crop if harvested before Nov. 1, resulting in the producer’s prevented planting payment being reduced by 65%.
Robson said the elimination of the forage harvest restriction could be vital for livestock producers in need of forage supplies, as was the case in 2019 when Michigan producers received a one-time waiver of the Nov. 1 harvest restriction.
“That particular year, heavy spring rains resulted in record prevented planting claims, with most livestock producers planting corn and alternative forage crops in July, just to replenish their feed inventories,” Robson explained. “This revision makes that forage harvest option permanent and avoids the need to seek emergency waivers.”
Under the new FCIC provisions, cover crops planted on acreage claimed as prevented from being planted can be hayed, grazed, or cut for silage, haylage, or baleage at any time without a reduction to the prevented planting payment, provided the insured meets all other policy provisions, according to Robson.
A cover crop on prevented plant acres harvested for grain or seed at any time, however, will still result in a 65% prevented planting payment reduction.
As defined in the Common Crop Insurance Policy Basic Provisions, a cover crop is a crop generally recognized by agricultural experts as agronomically sound for the area for erosion control or other purposes related to conservation or soil improvement.
According to RMA, cover crops provide multiple benefits to current and future cropping systems, such as preventing soil and wind erosion, improving the soil’s physical and biological properties, and suppressing weeds when soil is left bare after a prevented planting situation.
Contact one of the following Farm Bureau Crop Insurance Specialists or multi-line agents for additional information:
Farm Bureau Crop Insurance Specialists
(click name to email)
Ryan Fox, West, 269-313-5566
Marc Erffmeyer, Southwest, 269-569-1039
Marc Reinhardt, Bay-Thumb, 989-450-4851
Nate Gust, Southeast, 517-605-1076
Brenda Szach, Northern, 989-329-7290
Matt Thelen, Central, 989-640-0570
Multi-line Agents
(click name to email)
Scott Allen, Ithaca 989-875-2200
Rick Jensen, Escanaba 906-789-9373
Brent Leininger, Hillsdale 517-437-7619
Scott Peterson, Traverse City 231-932-7180
Marty Rudlaff, Berrien Springs 269-473-4791
Wayne Sayers, Caro 989-673-5588
Duane Simpkins, Gladwin 989-426-8131