RALEIGH, N.C., April 1, 2020 — The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia nursery growers that the date to apply for crop insurance coverage for the 2021 crop year is May 1. Current policyholders who wish to make changes to their existing coverage have until May 1 to do so. Growers applying for the first time may purchase coverage at any time.

Additional coverage will be available in select New Jersey counties for the 2021 crop year under the new Nursery Value Select Pilot program. Contact a crop insurance agent for more information on this new program.

Federal crop insurance is critical to the farm safety net. It helps growers and owners manage revenue risks and strengthens the rural economy. Coverage begins 30 days after receipt of a signed application and approval of required documents. For Nursery Field Grown and Container coverage, a Plant Inventory Value Report for each insured practice, and two copies of the grower’s most recent wholesale catalog or price list are required. For Nursery Value Select coverage, a Nursery Value Report, Monthly Unit Value Plan, and two copies of the grower’s most recent catalog are required. More information on nursery crop insurance is available at RMA's Nursery Policy web page.

Growers are encouraged to visit their crop insurance agent to learn specific details for the 2021 crop year.

USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is authorizing additional flexibilities due to coronavirus while continuing to support producers, working through Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs) to deliver services, including processing policies, claims and agreements. These flexibilities include: enabling producers to send notifications and reports electronically, extending the date for production reports and providing additional time and deferring interest on premium and other payments. RMA staff are working with AIPs and other customers by phone, mail and electronically to continue supporting crop insurance coverage for producers. Farmers with crop insurance questions or needs should continue to contact their insurance agents about conducting business remotely (by telephone or email). More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.

Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available online at the RMA Agent Locator. Producers can use the RMA Cost Estimator to get a premium amount estimate of their insurance needs online.

For more information about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net, visit www.rma.usda.gov.