WASHINGTON, Nov 5, 2010 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency has announced the expansion of soybean coverage to 14 counties in New York and 3 counties in Vermont, in addition to those counties where soybean coverage is already available.

Effective the 2011 crop year, soybean crop insurance coverage will be available for the additional New York counties of Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Dutchess, Essex, Franklin, Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Ostego, St. Lawrence, Tioga and Washington. In Vermont, the counties of Addison, Chittenden, and Franklin will have soybean crop insurance coverage available for the 2011 crop year.

“I am pleased that we are able to make soybean coverage available to more counties in New York and Vermont,” said RMA Administrator William J. Murphy. “This is another great example of how the Obama Administration has expanded critical Federal crop insurance protection to additional farmers and ranchers.”

Soybean growers should contact their local crop insurance agent for more information and to apply for soybean coverage in the newly expanded New York and Vermont counties. Additional information will be available on the RMA Web site in mid-November.