WASHINGTON — The United States Department of Agriculture has announced sales closing dates for three federal risk management programs.

The last date to purchase forage production crop insurance is Sept. 30. Coverage begins May 22, 2017, on acreage that has an adequate forage stand. To be eligible, the stand must be pure alfalfa, or mixed alfalfa and perennial grass, where alfalfa makes up more than 25 percent but less than 60 percent of ground cover.

Insurance protects against a decline in average production history yield due to adverse weather conditions including hail, frost, freeze, wind, drought and excess precipitation; wildlife damage; insect damage and plant disease, except for insufficient or improper application of control measures. Crop insurance premiums are subsidized based on the coverage level selected.

Coverage levels range from 50 to 75 percent of APH at 100 percent of the price election. The price election for the 2017 crop year is $184 per ton. The insurance is available outside of Aroostok and Penobscot counties through a written agreement.

The deadline for pasture, rangeland and forage pilot crop insurance is Nov. 15. This new program provides protection of pasture, hay and hayland against drought. No historical production records are required. Losses are determined by comparing reported precipitation over a two-month insured period to 50 years of historical rainfall data. Both reported and historical rainfall data are from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Center.

Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of agents is available at www.rma.usda.gov/tools/agent.html. Producers can use the Risk Management Agency cost estimator at ewebapp.rma.usda.gov/apps/costestimator/ to get a premium amount estimate of their insurance needs.

The deadline for noninsured crop disaster assistance for hay crops is Sept. 30. This program protects average production history from natural disasters that results in lower yields or quality. Coverage level options include the catastrophic level and up to 50 to 65 percent of APH at 100 percent of the average market price. This program is administered and sold by the USDA Farm Service Agency.

To learn more, contact the local Farm Service Agency office. A list of local offices is available at www.fsa.usda.gov/state-offices/Maine/index.

FMI: 207-949-2490, erin.roche@maine.edu, extension.umaine.edu/agriculture/maine-risk-management-and-crop-insurance-education-program/.