Insurance for New Biofuel Crop Now Available

Billings, Mont., Jan. 14, 2016 - USDA’s Risk Management Agency today announced that producers in Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota can insure carinata by written agreement under the canola and rapeseed insurance plans. Producers must submit a written agreement request to their insurance company by the March 15 sales closing date.

Crop insurance provides protection against a loss in production due to natural perils, such as drought or excessive moisture. A written agreement is a document designed to provide crop insurance for insurable crops when coverage or rates are unavailable, or to modify existing terms and conditions in the crop insurance policy.

Carinata, a semi-arid plant, is an inedible oilseed sharing characteristics of both mustard and canola and is intended for the biofuel market. The common name for the crop is “Ethiopian Mustard.” Carinata is a rotational crop option that can be used to produce jet fuel and protein meal for livestock.

A list of frequently asked questions about insuring carinata is available on the Billings Regional Office website under the Underwriting Guidelines section.

Eric Bashore, Billings Regional Office director, reminds producers to contact their crop insurance agent for more information on carinata coverage options. 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 use the RMA Cost Estimator to get a premium amount estimate of their insurance needs online. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at www.rma.usda.gov.

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