Noem Applauds USDA On Prevented Planting Change

Press Release

U.S. Representative Kristi Noem (R-SD) applauded the United States Department of Agriculture on their announcement today modifying rules to allow farmers in the Prairie Pothole Region to have increased flexibility in accessing crop insurance prevented planting assistance in the 2012 crop year, if next year's spring planting season is once again wetter than normal.

"Farmers in Northeastern South Dakota can't control the fact that there have been three extremely wet years in a row. USDA's decision will help ensure that a few wet years won't make farmers who are exercising good farming practices ineligible for crop insurance because of conditions beyond their control. I applaud USDA for making this common sense change," said Noem.

The USDA modification will allow farmers to use the 2008 crop year as well as 2009, 2010 and 2011 in determining prevented planting coverage for 2012. Previously, only the three most recent years would be considered. Without this policy change for 2012, Northeastern South Dakota farmers, who have endured three very wet years in a row, would be severely limited in their ability to access prevented planting crop insurance coverage.

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