The temperatures are turning warmer. Soon, we will be back in daylight savings time. The itch to get the dirt turned and the seed planted is starting to affect us all. It?s almost time to start the 2023 crop season here in Iowa. However, before you do any of that, you have to do one very important thing; make sure your crops have the protection they need in case the worst-case scenario happens.
Iowa is no stranger to the floods, hail storms, droughts, and derechos that can wipe out a crop in the blink of an eye. Sometimes replanting is an option, but there are other times when it is just too late. That is why we have crop insurance. Because it is a necessity to the security of this country, the Federal Government offers crop insurance safety nets through the USDA. The signup period has been going for some time, but the deadline is just a few short days away, on March 15th.
Jodee Stuart is an Agriculture Program Specialist with the United States Department of Agriculture. She talks about what options farmers have when deciding between the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs that were authorized by the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills. She discusses the things you need to consider with the election and enrollment process.
Stuart says that there is no real change in this year?s programs. The only change is the base price they will use to calculate payout rates for crop insurance. In fact, the USDA RMA office just announced that those rates are going to be $5.91/bu for corn and $13.76/bu for soybeans.
Stuart reminds us that the clock is ticking and discusses the options available for farmers to have their enrollment completed by March 15th.
