Crop Insurance Deadlines Approaching
With crop insurance deadlines fast approaching, farmers who still have not completed harvest need to begin the process of applying for deadline extensions in order to protect their assets. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Risk Management Agency (RMA) has offered guidance on its crop insurance procedures to affected farmers with a checklist and explanations on their website.
RMA'S procedures allow crop insurance companies to authorize policyholders on a case-by-case basis more time to attempt to harvest so claims can be settled based on harvest production.
Farmers requiring this sort of extension should:
1. Contact their insurance agent to report a loss.
2. Tell the agent harvest is delayed due to inclement weather.
3. Continue normal harvest practices, if possible.
4. Document conditions for acreage and actions taken to receive an accurate claim payment.
The end of the insurance period for most spring planted crops is Dec. 10, 2009, but the actual date can be located in your policy's crop provisions. RMA notes the contractual date cannot be extended through the agency. Instead, farmers should review the conditions listed on RMA's Web site that must be met before the crop insurance company is allowed to authorize additional time for harvesting the crop and settlement of any claims.
Also, it is important to note most crop insurance policies will cover loss of quality, reduced yield and revenue losses if revenue coverage was chosen. However, it will not cover the cost of drying the harvested crop.
NCGA Welcomes EPA Response
The National Corn Growers Association is pleased with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's tacit endorsement of higher ethanol blends in its letter delaying a final decision on a requested waiver until next spring. The waiver request was supported by NCGA, key ethanol organizations and thousands of farmers and others from around the country who stressed their support for corn-based ethanol as a clean and sustainable alternative to foreign oil.
"While we are disappointed the Environmental Protection Agency has chosen to postpone its decision on the higher ethanol blends, we are pleased the positive tone of their response shows an understanding of the importance of moving to higher blends in the very near future," said NCGA President Darrin Ihnen. "We are confident that the Agency's further research will support our position. Further, NCGA feels strongly that EPA should work quickly and expeditiously to move toward higher blends and we look forward to working with the ethanol industry to make this happen."
In its response, the EPA showed that initial testing showed the viability of higher blends.
"As we are evaluating your El5 waiver petition, we want to make sure we have all necessary science to make the right decision," EPA Assistant Administrator Gina McCarthy wrote. "Although all of the studies have not been completed, our engineering assessment to date indicates that the robust fuel, engine and emissions control systems on newer vehicles (likely 2001 and newer model years) will likely be able to accommodate higher ethanol blends, such as E15."
Click here for the EPA letter.
Conference Explores Range of Ethanol Usage
While ethanol is commonly recognized as a potential source of fuel for automobiles, opportunities to run a large variety of both on-road and stationary engines on the corn-based energy source abound. To help further the expansion of these industries, the National Corn Growers Association, in conjunction with ICM and the Nebraska Corn Board, held the Engine Technology Opportunities for Ethanol Conference recently in Omaha.
At the meeting, a variety of industry members - from testing lab scientists to engine manufacturers and ethanol suppliers - had the opportunity to explore possibilities and make essential connections.
Focusing on new technology advances, increases in efficiency and the growers' ability to produce an ever-increasing supply of corn, speakers presented possible uses for ethanol. As a sustainable, cleaner energy source, ethanol makes economic sense for a variety of industries including use as fuel for locomotives, long-haul trucks, heavy-duty and stationary engines, and flex-fuel vehicles.
NCGA thanks the Nebraska Corn Board for their support, which made this key event possible.
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This Week's NCGA Blog Highlights
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PROFILES IN AG LEADERSHIP |
Agricultural Leadership is a Family Affair
Every Friday, NCGA features a profile of one of our country's corn farmers that provides a look the future of agricultural leadership. Today, we meet Today, we meet Keith Alverson, who is expanding upon his father's example of exemplary service to South Dakota corn growers.
 When speaking with Keith Alverson about service and agricultural leadership, his greatest influence in choosing a life of service becomes readily apparent.
Keith proudly speaks of his father's accomplishments. A founding member of both the South Dakota Corn Growers Association and the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council, Ron Alverson still found time to volunteer for the school booster foundation and help open one of the first farmer owned ethanol plants in the state.
Three years ago, Keith decided that he wanted to emulate his father by becoming involved in agricultural leadership. In that short amount of time, he has already become the vice president of the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council and currently serves as vice chair of the National Corn Growers Association Ethanol Committee.
Click here for the whole story. |
