While many farmers have purchased crop insurance to manage their risk against weather conditions such as the current drought, the Maryland Department of Agriculture reminds farmers to stay in close contact with their crop insurance agent, as there are rules that must be followed to receive claims.
Also, the department's State Chemist Section is offering farmers free testing of corn grain and forage for nitrates, aflatoxins and prussic acid. These compounds, which can be deadly to livestock, are often present in grain in dry weather conditions.
Federal crop insurance guidelines require that written notice be given to crop insurance agents within 72 hours of discovery of damage or loss; 15 days before harvest begins; and within 15 days after harvesting is completed, but not later than Dec. 10 for grain corn and soybeans.
Farmers are reminded to retain evidence of damage until a loss adjuster evaluates it.
Farmers who are planning to cut grain-type corn for silage should determine the grain content before harvesting, regardless of whether the crop is insured on yield or revenue.
If the loss adjusting workload does not permit adjusters to appraise damaged crop acreage before a farmer is ready to start cutting silage, federal policies require that loss adjusters select sample rows for later yield determination, and provide the farmer with written authority to leave such areas as samples.
It is important that notice of damage be filed with a crop insurance agent as early as the farmer determines that damage occurred so that harvesting is not delayed while waiting for a loss adjuster.
For information about crop insurance, contact your insurance agent; Mark Powell, chief of marketing and agricultural development at MDA, 410-841-5775; or Gene Gantz, risk management specialist, 717-787-4694.
For instructions on grain sampling and submission, contact the local Maryland Cooperative Extension office or visit www.mda.state.md.us.