Maryland Farmers Reminded to Report Damage to Crop Insurance Agents

Flooded farm fields suffering crop loss on the Eastern Shore.

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Joe Bartenfelder reminds farmers that they should report any losses from recent storms and cool weather to their crop insurance agents as soon as possible. Crop insurance agents are receiving notice from many farmers that they will have to replant crops damaged by too much rain.

“Crops have been damaged from the intense periods of rain and some farmers have been prevented from doing field work necessary to keep up with planting,” said Secretary Bartenfelder. “I encourage farmers to keep in close contact with your insurance agent and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency to make sure they are aware of your losses.”

According to the USDA-National Agriculture Statistics Service Maryland farmers have experienced extended wet weather conditions, leading to overall surplus levels of topsoil and subsoil moisture. Among reports to the USDA FSA, farmers indicated rainfall of more than 14 inches in Wicomico County as of May 18. Watermelon crops planted in those areas will experience significant yield reduction.

For losses on crops covered by the Farm Service Agency’s Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program and crop insurance, producers must file a Notice of Loss within 15 days of the occurrence of the disaster or when losses become apparent. Producers must file a Notice of Loss for failed acres on all crops.

Maryland farmers insured more than 851,000 acres in 2017. Farmers had losses of $4.2 million. In 2010, farmers had more than $36 million in losses indemnified by crop insurance.

For more information on crop insurance, visit www.rma.usda.gov. To connect with the Farm Service Agency, go to www.fsa.usda.gov.

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