As planting season progresses, parts of the country are facing excessive moisture, making it difficult for some growers to get into fields, causing a Prevent Plant situation for crop insurance. While thereโs still time get in the field, itโs important to be prepared with policy reminders.
Timely communication with your Risk Management Advisor is essential. These policies have specific rules and requirements that can affect your coverage and payments. When in doubt, make the call to PRM.
In this article and related articles:
- Prevent Plant Overview and Policy Reminders
- Prevent Plant Common Questions
- Replant Policy Reminders
- Replant PRM Process
Prevent Plant Overview
What qualifies as Prevent Plant? Prevent Plant applies when you are unable to plant due to weather-related events, such as too much or too little moisture, that affect your general are, not just your operation.
To qualify:
- The acreage must meet a minimum of 20 acres or 20% of the crop unit, whichever is smaller.
- The land must have been planted, insured, and harvested in one of the last four years.
Key Dates
- Final Plant Date: Last day to plant and receive full crop insurance coverage.
- Late Planting Period: Typically 25 days after the final plant date, with a 1% per day reduction to your coverage guarantee.
Your specific dates vary by crop, county, and practice. Ask your Advisor or check the RMA website to confirm. The most common dates for PRM customers can be found here.
Payment Details: A Prevent Plant payment is typically 55โ60% of your regular insurance guarantee per acre, depending on your policy selections.
Eligible Acres: Your Prevent Plant acres are based on the highest number of insured acres for the crop over the past four years. For example:
- If your peak corn acreage was 400 acres and you planted 300 this year, you may be eligible for 100 Prevent Plant acres.
What Are Your Options After Electing Prevent Plant?
- Take 100% of your Prevent Plant payment and leave the ground idle.
- Plant a second crop and receive 35% of the Prevent Plant payment. The second crop may still be eligible for indemnity if planted after the final plant date.
- Plant a forage cover crop. It can be hayed, grazed, or chopped for silage without reducing your Prevent Plant payment.
- Explore operation-specific options with your Advisor.
Important: You must notify PRM within 72 hours after the final plant date or after you stop attempting to plant during the late period.
Common Prevent Plant Questions
Can I plant corn as a cover crop?
No. Corn is not considered a cover crop and will be treated as a crop planted for harvest.
Can I enroll Prevent Plant acres in NRCS programs like EQIP?
Yes. Normal cover crop rules apply, and these acres can still be enrolled in programs like EQIP without affecting your payment.
Can I chop a cover crop for silage later in the season?
Yes. You may hay, graze, or chop for silage, haylage, or baleage without affecting your payment. However, corn is not eligible.
Will this impact my APH?
If you collect a full Prevent Plant payment and do not plant a second crop, there is no impact to your APH. If a second crop is planted and a 35% payment is taken, your APH will be impacted with a 60% yield plug for the year.
Prevent Plant Questions?
Contact your Risk Management Advisor today. Weโre here to help you every step of the way. These policy details are never easy to navigate. That’s why you have PRM!
