11/10/05 Multi-peril crop insurance deadline

Fruit producers have a few days left to apply for 2006 federal multi-peril crop insurance before the sign-up deadline. SEUFER: It's November 20th, but that falls on a Sunday so policies can be sold on the following day on Monday, November 21st. And according to Jo Lynne Seufer of U.S.D.A.'s Risk Management Agency's Spokane office, many fruit varieties are covered under next year's policy. SEUFER: We have apples, blueberries. We have a cherry pilot program, as well as cranberries, grapes, pears, stone fruit, and then our raspberry-blackberry pilot program. The insurance program covers crop damage related to most forms of natural disasters. And according to Seufer, interest in the program piqued last year with a fifteen per cent increase in policy sales. The jump was attributed to modifications in the apple coverage program including raising the floor of the insurable grade under the basic apple policy. But for 2006 coverage, Seufer says no significant changes in coverage are planned. SEUFER: Any changes may be rates. It wouldn't be very significant at all but producers would have to find that out as they go through obtaining their policy with their crop insurance agent to see what qualifies in their county and what is subsidized by the government. And those rates have stayed the same. U.S.D.A. Service Centers across the Northwest have a list of eligible crop insurance agents.