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Maryland Farmers Reminded to Certify Conservation Compliance with County Farm Service Agency to Maintain Crop Insurance Subsidy

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) Secretary Joe Bartenfelder reminds farmers that to continue to be eligible for premium subsidy on any federally reinsured crop insurance policy, including specialty crops, livestock, and pasture, they must file form AD-1026 certifying conservation compliance with their local USDA Service Center’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) by June 1.

Most farmers already have a certification form on file, since it is required for participation in most USDA programs such as marketing assistance loans, farm storage facility loans and disaster assistance. However farmers, such as specialty crop growers who receive federal crop insurance premium support, but may not participate in other USDA programs, also must now file a certification form to maintain their crop insurance premium support.

“Farmers should be in contact with their local Farm Service Agency office to make sure they have met this eligibility requirement for reduced premiums on their crop insurance” said Secretary Bartenfelder, ”We want all eligible producers to be able to maintain their ability to protect their operations with affordable insurance.”

Producers should visit their local USDA service center and talk with their crop insurance agent before the June 1 deadline to ask questions, get additional information or learn more about conservation compliance procedures. Producers that file their form by the deadline will be eligible for federal crop insurance premium support during the 2016 reinsurance year, which begins July 1, 2015

The Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation Certification form is available at local USDA service center or online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/AD1026form. When a farmer completes this form, USDA Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service staff will outline any additional actions that may be required for compliance with highly erodible land and wetland provisions. USDA’s Risk Management Agency, through the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, manages the federal crop insuranceprogram that provides the modern farm safety net for America’s farmers and ranchers.

For more information, contact Steve Connelly, (410) 841-5824 or email, steve.connelly@maryland.gov.

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Contact Information

If you have any questions, need additional information or would like to arrange an interview, please contact:
Jessica Hackett
Director of Communications
Telephone: 410-841-5888

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