Sales Closing Date Nears in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming

BILLINGS, Mont., Sept. 15, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds producers to purchase crop insurance in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. The deadline of Sept. 30 applies to crop insurance policies for forage production, rye, wheat, and new winter wheat, in addition to the new 2016 margin protection coverage for spring wheat.

Producers need to buy, review, or modify their crop insurance policies before the Sept. 30 sales closing date has passed. Crop insurance provides protection against crop production losses due to natural perils such as drought, hail, and excessive moisture. Margin protection provides coverage against an unexpected decrease in a producer's operating margin (revenue less input costs).

For the first time during the 2016 crop year, a winter wheat coverage endorsement is available in all South Dakota counties. A spring wheat margin protection supplemental policy is available in select Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota counties.

Area-based margin protection provides county-level estimates to establish the amount of coverage and indemnity payments. Maps of eligible counties and other resources can be found on the margin protection Web page.

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

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (toll-free customer service), (800) 877-8339 (local or federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (relay voice users).