Fruit growers in the Pacific Northwest are being reminded about the November 20 closing deadline for crop insurance for 2015 by the United States Department of Agriculture. The USDA also announced several changes to the multi-peril crop insurance plan for pear growers.

Details about these changes are noted in the announcement below.

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USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) today announced program enhancements to the Pear Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) plan for the 2015 crop year.

Changes to the Pear Crop Provisions include:
·         Optional units may be established by type;
·         Revision to the actuarial structure for pear types;
·         Different coverage levels and percent of price elections that may be elected for each type in the county;
·         Revision to allow insects and disease to be insurable causes of loss unless damage is due to insufficient or improper application of control measures; and
·         Revision to the Fresh Pear Quality Adjustment Endorsement to include all insurable causes of loss.

Fruit producers in the Pacific Northwest are reminded of the upcoming sales closing date on November 20, for apple, blueberry, sweet and tart cherry actual revenue history, cranberry, grape, pear, table grape, and stone fruit crops (apricots, nectarines, freestone peaches, and plums/prunes).

Current policyholders and uninsured growers must make all of their decisions on crop insurance coverage before the sales closing date. If there is no coverage in a county for a specific crop under the traditional MPCI program, producers may be eligible for coverage under a written agreement. Producers should contact their crop insurance agent for more information.

Producers are encouraged to visit their crop insurance agent to learn specific details for the 2015 crop year. Federal crop insurance policies are sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance companies and agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA service centers or on the RMA website at: www3.rma.usda.gov/tools/agents.