Crop Insurance

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania farmers who suffered crop losses from natural disasters during the 2005-2007 crop years may receive loss benefits from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Crop Disaster Program, according to Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff. The program provides 42 percent of the established crop price to farmers who suffered crop losses greater than 35 percent in any crop year between 2005-2007 or if the damaged crop was planted or prevented from being planted before Feb. 28, 2007.

ANNAPOLIS - Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance reminds farmers who were unable to harvest spring-planted crops due to adverse weather to file a notice of crop damage with their crop insurance agent. Crop insurance policies require that notice of loss must be filed no later than 15 days after the calendar date for the end of the insurance period. In Maryland, Dec. 10 was the end of the insurance period for grain corn, grain sorghum and soybeans. That means farmers have until Friday to report losses.

Colleen Cashell, executive director of USDA's Farm Service Agency in Washington County said residents who would otherwise be ineligible for the disaster assistance programs available through the 2008 Farm Bill have only a few weeks left to pay a fee so they can become eligible. The buy-in fee is due no later than Sept. 16, 90 days after the date of enactment of the 2008 Farm Bill. "The 2008 Farm Bill requires producers who wish to participate in the new disaster programs to have crop insurance or noninsured crop disaster assistance (NAP)

By DON AINES / Staff Writer, Chambersburg photo: DON AINES WAYNESBORO, Pa. - Three undersized apples from one of Lee Showalter's trees fit easily in U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum's hand, illustrating the bleak situation many farmers in this region face heading into the harvest. [cont. from news page ] "Loans are not the answer. It has to be grants," said Guy Donaldson, an Adams County orchardist and president of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore will host a Small Farm Conference from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, in the Student Services Center on the campus in Princess Anne. Sessions addressing the needs of seasoned and beginner farmers include: Family Farm Estate Planning Financial Management, especially taxable returns and retirement planning Niche markets, including agritourism, edible flowers, high tunnel greenhouses, and livestock crossbreeding Crop insurance, on-farm processing, and tobacco as an alternative crop Admission, including a lunch, costs $25 per person if paid by Oct. 21; $35 after that.

The Maryland Commodity Classic to be held Thursday, July 29, at the Howard County Fairgrounds in West Friendship, Md., aims to meet growers' needs on multiple levels. The event is a joint effort between the Maryland Grain Producers Association and the Maryland Soybean Board. "We truly have the complete package at this year's classic," said Lynne Hoot, executive director of MGPA. "From market development to crop diseases and insurance, there is a speaker that will have almost any producer walking away enlightened.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania legislators will sit down with farmers, agriculture businessmen and federal officials on Aug. 31 to learn what the state can do to help ease the economic impact of the drought. [cont. from news page ] "We hope to hear from folks that are on the potential receiving end" of assistance, State Rep. Jeff Coy, D-Franklin, said Monday. The day-long hearing by the House Democratic Policy Committee will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Capitol Building's East Wing.

During the next several months, the headlines will be dominated by the clamoring from inside the beltway as legislators grapple with how to dig us out of a deep economic hole. I doubt any program or spending will be left untouched. I have written in previous columns how federally supported agricultural programs have taken hits in the areas of research for the public good, and Extension education, where the knowledge of the land grant university system is disseminated to the public.

Colleen Cashell, county executive director of USDA's Farm Service Agency in Washington County announced that eligible farmers who suffered losses of quantity of their crops due to natural disaster weather-related events in 2005 or 2006 or on crops planted before Feb. 28, 2007, can enroll in the Crop Disaster Program 2005-2007 at local FSA service centers. FSA will announce and conduct sign-up for quality losses under CDP as soon as possible. FSA offices may accept information from producers about quality losses when producers submit applications for quantity losses.