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High Stress Occupations: #1 Farming; #2 Insurance

High Stress Occupations: #1 Farming; #2 Insurance

As a Risk Management Advisor, I advise (implore!) you to get your Shingles Vaccination...and, take heed of these other upcoming deadlines.

Hello all,
I must confess that I thought I was rather healthy and tough up until a week ago - then, a Shingles diagnosis hit and it's kickin' my butt. If you've experienced this wonderful illness, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about; if not, as a Risk Management advisor, get yourself vaccinated! My outbreak just so happens to be in my left ear, which has caused or created secondary symptoms of partial face paralysis (Bells Palsy?) - belief is temporary and I'll be able to blink my left eye voluntarily again as well as drinking without slobbering on myself. Daughters tell me it's stress and I tell them "I'm stress free", that is, until an article today stating insurance is #2 stressed occupation behind farming - Great! Life lesson: Life is short. Please take nothing for granted, we're promised only today.

4/15 & other final plant dates - As most everyone knows, this year's tax deadline has been extended a couple days of because the 15th falls on a weekend. Those who've procrastinated have until the 18th to postmark your envelope to the IRS. This is not the case with final plant dates; the deadline is the deadline, regardless if on a weekend or weekday. Yes, you do have a late planting period eligible for coverage. However, the published deadline for your area determines when late planted coverage reductions apply to the policy. Let us know if you have any questions. Lastly, I've again attached the table showing the various final plant dates, due in part to prior omission - Walla Walla county has a 5/15 FPD for garbs and a 5/20 FPD for peas, please note accordingly.

County

Barley

Canola

Dry Peas

Spring Wheat

Adams

4/30

4/15

5/25

4/15
4/30 Area 2

Asotin

5/20

4/20
5/5 Area 2

5/20

4/30
5/15 Area 2

Columbia

5/10

4/10

5/20

5/5

Franklin

4/15

n/a

5/25 Irr only

4/15

Garfield

5/20
5/31 Area 2

4/20
5/5 Area 2

5/20

5/5
5/15 Area 2

Grant

4/30

n/a

5/25 Irr only

4/15
5/15 Area 2

Lincoln

5/20

5/1

5/20

4/30
5/10 Area 2
5/15 Area 3

Spokane

5/20

5/10

5/20

5/10
5/15 Area 2

Walla Walla

4/30

4/1

5/15 Garbs
5/20 Dry Peas

4/15
4/30 Area 3

Whitman

5/20

5/1

5/20 All types

4/30
5/15 Area 2

Umatilla

5/15

4/1

5/15 Garbs
5/25 All other

4/30

Benewah

5/20

5/10

5/20

5/20

Idaho

5/25

5/15

5/20 Garbs
5/25 All other

5/15

Latah

5/20

5/10

5/20

5/20

 

Remember: You're not required to plant beyond the final plant date and into the late plant period, however, do pay attention to what's happening across the fence-line as that will have an impact on your prevent plant claim. If you do plant into the late plant period, coverage is available but your guarantee is reduced 1% per day for each day planted beyond the final plant date. Qualified prevent plant claims are paid at 60% of the unit's guarantee, not a moneymaker, but does help defray costs of preparations completed previously. Our post on 3.31.17 had some additional information for your reference, should you need.

APH Deadline - The deadline for providing your spring production is 4/29, and is fast approaching. Most have already completed when fall production was reported. My concern is for those who just may plant a crop that has not been grown for several years, barley for example, and the production records are not up to date. As mentioned previously here, the penalty stroke for not providing production is significant - 65% assigned yield and loss of optional units for that crop. So make sure your APH is up to date for all crops you're wanting to insure and plant this spring...like you need something else to be concerned with, sorry.

ARC vs PLC - A good read by Dr. Fortenbery of Washington State University showing the economic impact of enrollment flexibility for growers.

Crop Hail - Is it too early to talk about hail insurance? We had a couple of growers place coverage with us on their winter wheat last week. The point of emphasis this time is the carryover coverage provided by last year's hail policy - it has a sunset date of 5/15. Until recently, some carriers had a 5/15 and a 5/31 midnight carryover dates. This was among several changes for the 2017 crop year. To the best of my knowledge, the 5/15 renewal date is for virtually all carriers. What this means is, you've got all the remaining liability that was in place last year, on this year's acres until 5/15 midnight. At the stroke of midnight, *poof* your 2016 carryover coverage turns into a pumpkin (nothing)!

Farm Bill Listening Session - Cathy McMorris Rogers will be hosting Farm Bill Listening Sessions seeking input from growers. The first for Eastern Washington will be in Colfax next Monday, 4/17, at the Public Service Building, 310 North Main, from 5 - 6 pm. I encourage all who can to get out and make your voice heard and wishes known to our Congresswoman.

Family Matters - An article with useful tips to keep the family farm running smoothly and for the next generations yet to come...

Homeowners Survey - What? Insureds don't read their policy prior to trips, vacations, children off to college, etc?!? Read the surprising news here

Next Farm Bill - Input provided this past week as the commodity group leaders meet with House Agriculture General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee on Capitol Hill. Read them here...

Nearing a million drones and growing - The current pace of drone registrations in the US is astounding. Since the first of the year, nearly 1,000 applicants per day...embracing technology

Snow mold Prescott, WA - Here's an article stating some were surprised by the amount of snow mold found in area winter wheat fields. I'm not sure why - continuous snow cover for more days than recent memory can recall, coupled with the fact that few growers plant snow mold resistant varieties in areas not subject to extended periods of snow cover or the resulting damage thereof.

Things that make you go "hmmm..." - The Chinese have lifted their ban on Brazilian beef in fewer days than the number of years Chinese have banned US beef after the discovery of BSE in Washington state back in 2003. Read about it...

I wish all a Happy Easter!

Curtis Evanenko
McGregor Risk Management Services, LLC
Cell - 509.540.2632
Office - 509.843.2599
Fax - 509.843.2583

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