Overview
Cornell University now manages the New York Crop Insurance Education Program to provide risk management and crop insurance resources to New York agricultural producers. The program's objective is to provide producers with enough information about crop insurance to make an informed decision about whether to use currently available crop insurance and risk management strategies. Cornell's staff and educators offer workshops on crop insurance topics and are available at booths at all major trade shows in the state. In addition, educators can be scheduled to make presentations to producer groups upon request throughout the year.
In the past, the Department has partnered with the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) to provide education opportunities to producers about crop insurance and risk management.
Insurance Programs
Crop insurance is made available by the USDA Risk Management Agency on a county-by-county and crop-by-crop basis. There is crop insurance available for twenty-five different crops in New York State. Crop insurance protects the policy holder against either yield or revenue losses that are the result of specific weather-related or other natural events. The Federal government subsidizes most premiums.
There is also a Whole Farm Revenue insurance program for diversified growers of multiple crops. Whole-Farm Revenue Protection provides a risk management safety net for all commodities on the farm under one insurance policy.
The sales closing date and reporting deadlines vary by crop and type of coverage. It is recommended that you meet with a crop insurance agent well in advance of the deadline, to ensure time to gather documentation. Please be aware of these deadlines:
- Spring-planted field crops – March 15
- Vegetables (except onions) – March 15
- Onions – February 1
- Whole Farm Revenue Protection – March 15
- Spring-planted forage seeding – March 15
- Fall-planted forage seeding – July 31
- Fall-planted barley and wheat – September 30
- Apples, grapes, peaches, tart cherries – November 20
- Nursery and greenhouse – monthly enrollment for new applicants; May 1 renewal
- Pasture, Rangeland and Forage (PRF) insurance for pasture and hay – November 15
- Apiculture – November 15
- Dairy Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) – Last business Friday/Saturday of each month
Non-insured Assistance Program
For crops where there is no crop insurance, the Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory, or prevented planting occur due to natural disasters. This program is administered by the USDA Farm Service Agency, with offices in many counties across the state.