Pa. Crop Insurance Workshops Give Farmers Risk Management Options

Pennsylvania farmers worried about poor growing seasons will have the opportunity next month to learn how they can protect their investments at any one of five workshops that will be hosted by the Department of Agriculture, the only state agriculture agency in the nation to develop and own a crop insurance product.

State Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff said five crop insurance workshops will be offered across the state to help producers, crop insurance agents and other agri-business professionals.

“Crop insurance is an essential part of a good risk management plan,” Wolff said. “Pennsylvania is a national leader in crop insurance because we recognize how important it is to preserve farmers’ investments. These workshops will give professionals a detailed look at recent developments in agriculture, as well as new opportunities.”

The free workshops will include an hour-long session on pesticide recertification and those who attend will receive two credits and a free lunch. For more information and to register, call any workshop on the following schedule:

– Feb. 3 – Altoona – 814-946-7315
– Feb. 10 – Tunkahannock – 570-836-2181
– Feb. 14 – Lancaster – 717-394-6851
– Feb. 15 – Gibsonia – 724-443-1585
– Feb. 16 – Meadville – 814-332-6890

AGR-Lite was created by the department in response to many producers who did not have traditional products available to protect their farms. AGR-Lite is a whole-farm umbrella policy designed for specialty crop and diversified farm operations. Seventeen other states offer AGR-Lite under the ownership and oversight of Pennsylvania.

The regional workshops are part of the state’s crop insurance education and outreach program, which are funded by a $754,000 partnership agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Crop insurance has reportedly provided $127 million in loss payments to Pennsylvania producers in the last five years, representing a $4 return on each dollar invested.

For more information on Pennsylvania’s crop insurance initiative and other risk management opportunities, visit http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us and click on ‘Producers.’