PULLMAN, Wash. — A conference on how to apply for a new crop income insurance program will be broadcast live by satellite, 2-4 p.m., Jan. 10, from the Washington State University campus, here.
Arrangements are being made for seven or eight downlink sites in eastern Washington where it can be viewed by agricultural producers and insurance agents.
Jonathan Newkirk, WSU extension economist, Ritzville, said the Spokane regional office of the USDA Risk Management Agency recently announced expansion of a pilot, whole-farm crop income insurance product, called Adjusted Gross Revenue insurance. It 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 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 pilot 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 to producers in Adams, Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, Walla Walla and Yakima counties.
Contact your local WSU Cooperative Extension office, a local crop insurance company, or the Wenatchee Valley College for information on the nearest downlink site where you can view the program.
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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