Pennsylvania farmers will receive $1.5 million in state assistance for their 2008 crop insurance premiums, Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff said today.
"Crop insurance is an essential tool for protecting Pennsylvania
agriculture," Wolff said. "Crop price instability, the rising cost of production and adverse weather can damage a farmer's bottom line, making it essential that they have a way to recover financially and start preparing for the next growing season.
"Crop insurance assistance makes coverage more affordable, and I urge all Pennsylvania producers to enroll in a crop insurance program to help protect their livelihoods and the vitality of Pennsylvania agriculture."
The assistance is provided through the Pennsylvania Crop Insurance
Assistance Program, a partnership between the General Assembly, U.S. Department of Agriculture, crop insurance industry, farmers and the Department of Agriculture. Producers will receive premium discounts of approximately 5 percent of their net premium.
In the last five years, $140 million in crop insurance loss payments have been paid to producers, compared to $44 million in paid premiums -- a more than $3 return on every dollar invested.
Producers are reminded that March 17 is the deadline for enrollment in crop insurance for 2008 spring planted crops.
