PULLMAN, Wash. — Farmers and insurance agents will be able to view a satellite broadcast Jan. 10 on a new whole-farm revenue insurance program at any of eight downlink sites in eastern and central Washington, and two in Oregon.
The program on Adjusted Gross Revenue insurance will be broadcast live by satellite, 2-4 p.m. from the Washington State University Pullman campus.
Jonathan Newkirk, WSU Cooperative Extension economist, Ritzville, said the insurance will be available to producers in 25 Washington, Oregon and Idaho counties for the 2001 crop year.
The insurance protects producers against low revenue due to unavoidable causes. It provides coverage for multiple agricultural commodities in one insurance product.
Newkirk said WSU, the Spokane Regional Office of the USDA Risk Management Agency and local insurance companies are sponsoring the satellite conference to help producers meet the Jan. 31 closing date for purchase of the insurance.
Scott Fedale, chair of the WSU information department, will host the broadcast. The Risk Management Agency and the insurance companies will provide program content and answer questions via an 800 number, fax and e-mail.
Newkirk said the insurance program offers producers of most commodities their first-ever opportunity to buy whole-farm revenue insurance.
“This insurance will be of interest to producers of livestock, forages, tree fruit, onions, potatoes, vegetable and specialty crops, wheat, barley, oil seeds and corn,” he said. Both irrigated and dryland producers are eligible.
In Washington, the insurance will be available in Adams, Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, Walla Walla and Yakima counties.
The program may be viewed at the following locations, organized by city:
- Albany, Ore., Linn County Extension Service, Old Armory at 4th and Lyons.
- Beaverton, Ore., Capital Center, 18640 Walker Rd. Suite 1400.
- Ephrata, WSU Grant County Cooperative Extension, 35 C Street SW.
- Moses Lake, Big Bend Community College, 7662 Chaunte Street, Room 1509 in 1500 Building.
- Okanogan, WSU Okanogan County Cooperative Extension, 149 Third North, Room 101.
- Prosser, WSU Irrigated Agriculture Research & Extension Center, 24106 N. Bunn Rd.
- Ritzville, WSU Adams County Cooperative Extension, Public Works Building, 210 W. Alder.
- Walla Walla, WSU Walla Walla County Cooperative Extension, 317 W. Rose.
- Wenatchee, Wenatchee Valley College, 1300 Fifth Street.
- Yakima, WSU Yakima County Cooperative Extension, 128 N. Second Street, Room 232.
If other downlink sites are arranged before the broadcast, Newkirk said they will be announced locally.
People with a large dish satellite system can view the program directly by tuning their receiver to Galaxy 3, Channel 2. A test signal will be broadcast beginning at 1:30 p.m. To troubleshoot problems, call the WSU Teleconference Center at (509) 335-9290.
EDITORS: The new insurance will be available to producers in Canyon, Payette and Washington counties in Idaho, and in Oregon’s Benton, Clackamas, Columbia, Lane, Linn, Malheur, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington and Yamhill counties.
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