The July 15 deadline for farmers to sign up for drought loss protection on annual forages for the fall growing season—Sept. 1 through March 31, 2017—is fast approaching.
The RI-AF deadline for the spring season, which is March 1-Sept. 30, 2017, is Dec. 15.
The Rainfall Index–Annual Forage Insurance, known as RI-AF, is a risk policy designed to allow livestock producers to look at possible future weather conditions and buy protection against losses due to a lack of moisture, according to AgriLife Today.
RI-AF is similar to Pasture Range and Forage Insurance, but differs in the type of commodity covered. RI-AF covers annual forage crops such as wheat, oats, rye and triticale in the fall or Sudan grass, haygrazer, dryland sorghum silage and millet in the spring. Under the Pasture Range and Forage Insurance, perennial grasses, rangeland and hay types are covered.
Payments made due to a lack of rain are determined on a grid basis rather than individual farm rainfall. According to AgriLife Today, RI-AF requires coverage on all certified acres not intended for grain production, and the same crop can’t be covered on both a multi-peril policy and RI-AF policy.
To optimize RI-AF, farmers can select specific coverage levels and protection factors. Coverage must be divided among three two-month intervals per growing season.
More information can be found through your local crop insurance agent.