RISK MANAGEMENT FOR INSECTS, WEEDS, AND WEATHER
WASHINGTON, Jun 27, 2003 - Near-record rainfall has taken its toll along the east coast and southern regions. The mid-west is plagued by tornadoes and thunderstorms, while the west suffers from multi-year drought. Severe weather conditions not only destroy crops, but also prevent most crop production and may prevent planting entirely. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) provides producers with the appropriate risk management tools for severe weather conditions.
Excessive precipitation can also breed additional weeds and insects. In many western states there has been excessive bug pressure from crickets and potentially similar problems from grasshoppers. In order to be eligible for insurance payments in these conditions, producers should take the proper precautionary measures available to protect their crops. Unless the producer has an organic practice, this may mean spraying pesticides to destroy insects and herbicides to destroy weeds.
“The federal crop insurance program was designed to provide producers with the best possible safety net for these conditions,” stated RMA Administrator Ross J. Davidson, Jr. “Producers with crop insurance will be able to recover some cost, depending on their individual policies. They should consult with their agents.”
Severe weather can be an insurable cause of loss under current crop insurance policies. Severe weather includes, but is not limited to, drought, excessive precipitation, lightening and hail. Producers who are not able to plant due to severe weather may also be covered under prevented planting provisions within most insurance policies.
Prevented planting provisions in insurance policies provide valuable coverage to producers when excessive precipitation prevents expected plantings. Due to the complex nature of farming, the application of prevented planting provisions under specific conditions can produce varying results. For more specific information on prevented planting, a comprehensive handbook can be found on RMA’s web site at http://www.rma.usda.gov/data/directives.html (directive numbers 25370 and 25370-1).
For more information on severe weather and insect coverage, producers are encouraged to contact their local crop insurance agent. A list of crop insurance agents is available at local Farm Service Agency offices or by using RMA's Agent Locator at: http://www3.rma.usda.gov/tools/agents/.
Online Government Pest and Weed Information
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
Online Information on Insects/Weeds from Selected State Departments of Agriculture
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