Farm Briefs: Sept. 5, 2010

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September 5, 2010

Anonymous Press-Republican The Press Republican Sun Sep 05, 2010, 03:28 AM EDT

Hay and pasture insurance expands

ALBANY — New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker has announced that the USDA Risk Management Agency is expanding crop insurance coverage statewide for hay and pasture in the 2011 growing season.

Last year, USDA had a pilot program for hay and pasture in only 15 counties. Producers interested in 2011 crop insurance coverage of hay and pasture must sign up by Sept. 30.

"Hay is an essential crop for dairy and livestock farmers in New York," Hooker said. "I appreciate USDA expanding its pilot program to offer hay and pasture insurance for all of New York State next year, and encourage our farmers to consider this opportunity. Insurance premiums are affordable and insurance payments can help producers purchase replacement feed if a drought reduces their hay and pasture production."

The program, officially called the Pasture, Rangeland, Forage — Rainfall Index, or PRF-RI, allows producers to insure their hay crop or pasture against drought. When less-than-normal precipitation occurs, insured producers may receive a payment based on the difference in historical data for their location and rainfall during the insured time interval.

PRF-RI is considered a group risk policy, covering livestock grazing and hay land based on a rainfall index for the area in which it falls. Historical data from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center is used to create a long-term average number for a specific area. Then, current precipitation data is used to create an index that reflects current over normal rainfall. For example, if a producer insures their hay for 90 percent or less of normal rainfall, and the rainfall in May and June is only 50 percent of normal, then the producer receives a payment. No yield reporting is required, nor do loss adjusters visit the farm.

Producers must purchase crop insurance from a licensed crop insurance agent. To find an agent, producers should visit the USDA RMA website for a list of registered agents at www.rma.usda.gov/ or call the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets for a list of agents working in New York State at 800-554-5401.

Online courses for beginning farmers offered

PLATTSBURGH — The Cornell Small Farms Program and Cornell Cooperative Extension are expanding offerings of their popular online courses for beginning farmers with two new online courses this fall, in addition to the usual beginners fall course, BF 101.

Participants can join experienced CCE and farmer instructors and 25 farmer peers in a dynamic learning experience that incorporates both self-paced readings and real-time virtual meetings with discussion forums, homework activities, guest presenters and developing a customized plan for the next steps in farming.

The courses are as follows:

BF 110: Soil Health Basics: Investing in the Vitality of Your Farm: The health and productivity of our soils are the basis for a farm's success and profitability, as well as its ecological sustainability. Farmers need a holistic approach to preserving and building soil health and fertility. Stewardship of the soil is arguably the most important job of any farmer or gardener.

This course will incorporate a face-to-face field day hosted by the Northeast Organic Farming Association at instructor David Belding's Cross Island Farms on Wellesley Island, N.Y., from 4-7 p.m. Oct 18. This will be an opportunity to meet fellow coursemates and see firsthand how Belding has improved the soils on his farm over the past five years. The field day fee is covered by the course registration cost.

Cayuga BF 104: Financial Record-keeping: A Cornerstone of Farm Profitability: To succeed in business, financial management is key. The foundation of a sound financial-management program for a farm is a good record-keeping system. This six-week course will provide an insight, understanding and the technological know-how to produce financial records and a beginning knowledge of analyzing financial statements.

Columbia County BF 101: Taking Stock: Evaluating Your Land and Resources and Choosing an Enterprise: Evaluating what you want to do and what you have to work with are key elements to a successful new farm enterprise. This course will help take the first steps toward setting goals, assessing the resources available for farming (physical, financial and personal) and deciding what enterprises are the best fit.

Each participant will be gathering information about their own enterprise and will begin to create a Farm Plan.

Course dates are Thursday, Oct. 14, to Wednesday, Nov. 24. All courses incorporate live webinars featuring farmers, agency staff and University faculty. See the link below for webinar dates and details.

The cost is $150 per course, except the soil-health course, which is $165. To register or for more information on course format and requirements, visit http://www.ny beginningfarmers.org/index.php?page=onlinecourse.