Pa. Ag Secretary Notes Crop Reporting Deadline

Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff reminded Pennsylvania farmers to report their acreage for spring-planted crops enrolled in the 2004 Crop Insurance Program before the July 15 deadline.

“The profitability of any agricultural operation depends, in part, on a
good risk management plan,” said Wolff. “For farmers that have taken the important step of enrolling in crop insurance, it is now time to report the actual acreage planted this season to their insurance agent and local Farm Service Agency.”

The acreage report is the basis for determining the amount of insurance provided and the premium charged. Crops with the July 15 acreage reporting deadline include: corn, sweet corn (processing), fresh sweet corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, potatoes, fresh market tomatoes, tomatoes (processing) and tobacco.

The Crop Insurance Assistance Program, administered by the state
Department of Agriculture, covers part of the cost to purchase insurance and has reportedly helped double crop insurance participation to more than 1.2 million acres – the highest ever in Pennsylvania.

Working in partnership with the USDA Risk Management Agency, Penn State University Cooperative Extension and other crop insurance companies, the Department has been able to reach thousands of Pennsylvania’s farmers, educating them about the importance of crop insurance and options.