Protect Your Growing Operation from the Floods with Crop Protection

With the anticipated January floods of 2017, don’t let inclement weather devastate your growing operations. Crop insurance is still available for a variety of crops this year.

The upcoming storms are predicted to be the largest that we’ve received in the past 10 years. Between 1995 and 1997, when heavy rains were causing severe flooding, there was widespread disaster assistance and crop insurance indemnities issued to growers. Many crops were not planted in the spring as the ground was too wet to get into the fields. Permanent crops (trees and vines) had widespread loss of trees from saturated soil and high winds. Alfalfa fields sat for weeks under lakes of water. 

We can learn from these experiences and prepare for potential damages to our growing operations. Crop Insurance can provide protection from any type of inclement weather, including flood, excessive precipitation, wind, freeze and failure of irrigation supply. Coverage levels start at insuring 50 percent of the crop and may increase to 85 percent coverage. In the event of a possible loss, growers must notify their agent within 72 hours.

Growers of the following crops can still purchase crop insurance for this year:

• January 31: Process Tomatoes, Fresh Tomatoes, Apples, Apricots, Cherries, Grapes, Nectarines, Olives, Pears, Peaches, Plums, Prunes, Table Grapes, Walnuts
• January 31 (Arizona): Chile Peppers, Pecans
• February 28: Figs, Cotton, Corn, Rice, Dry Beans, Sorghum
• March 15: Mint
• May 31: Nursery

If you would like to learn more about crop insurance or to sign up for the program, please contact Crop Insurance Specialist Gretchen Rooney-Adan at grooneyadan@wgis.com or (530) 305-7800.