WASHINGTON, D.C., March 16, 2020 – Nursery Insurance is offered as part of the Federal crop insurance program in all 50 states. The Risk Management Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture recently received authorization to offer a new alternative nursery insurance program, referred to as Nursery Value Select (NVS), in select states and counties alongside the current program.

Watts and Associates, Inc. (W&A), a private economic consulting firm based in Billings, Montana, was contracted to conduct basic training for nursery stakeholders in these states on this new program to ensure understanding of the NVS program prior to sales beginning. W&A has completed nearly 100 contracts focused on crop insurance over the last 20 years.

In an effort to provide training to the broadest possible audience, W&A is hosting web-based stakeholder training meetings on March 24, March 26, and April 3.

• Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at 05:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
  Join Zoom Meeting (Copy and Paste following address into your web browser)
  https://zoom.us/j/176035704?pwd=TytXWjlhWWJ2RExHY2pwYnpoVFBldz09
  Meeting ID: 176 035 704
  Password: 421150
  One tap mobile
  +16699006833,,176035704# US (San Jose)
  +16468769923,,176035704# US (New York)

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    +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
    +1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 176 035 704

Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/asGAgLEBh

• Thursday, March 26, 2020 at 11:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
  Join Zoom Meeting (Copy and Paste following address into your web browser)
  https://zoom.us/j/325243531?pwd=VkRjRjc5Q3pXYkxFWHAxSTk2NFkwdz09
  Meeting ID: 325 243 531
  Password: 479026
  One tap mobile
  +16699006833,,325243531# US (San Jose)
  +16468769923,,325243531# US (New York)

Dial by your location
    +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
    +1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 325 243 531

Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/asGAgLEBh

• Friday, April 3, 2020 at 02:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
  Join Zoom Meeting
  https://zoom.us/j/449566041?pwd=eWtLbXRySmxicVAyNDduY2ZlWWYxZz09
  Meeting ID: 449 566 041
  Password: 624932

Dial by your location
    +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
    +1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 449 566 041

Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/asGAgLEBh

Each online meeting will be focused on providing a broad overview of the NVS pilot program and responding to participants’ questions. Each session will have an hour of program overview and instruction and half an hour of question and answer interaction.

USDA is making these sessions available to provide information regarding availability of the NVS program to nursery growers and stakeholders in the states where the program is being piloted. All stakeholders are welcome. The sessions will cover the following topics: application process, grower eligibility, plant categories, coverage levels, unit structure, covered practices, insurable risks, and any questions or concerns stakeholders may address. Anyone interested in nurseries or crop insurance is welcome to participate and we are particularly interested in sharing materials with producers, extension agents, crop association and crop insurance industry representatives. If you are unable to participate, but still interested, you can provide your input and request materials by email at rma.kc.nursery@usda.gov.