Prevented planting deadlines approaching
This spring planting season has had fits and starts thanks to all the wet weather that has marched across the state since April. And, the weather models look to include a few more rainy days over the coming month. You may be considering looking at prevented planting as that corn planting window slowly closes. The first step is to contact your crop insurance agent who can help determine your eligibility and explain reporting requirements. Working with your agent early is important to ensure you meet deadlines and have the right information. For example, your agent’s knowledge and timeliness is critical in determining eligible acres for prevented planting payments.
Final planting date is May 31 for corn in southern Minnesota, and May 25 in northern Minnesota. After the final planting date, a prevented planting payment can be taken if the grower meets the criteria. Corn planting during the late planting period, which is 25 days after the final planting date, can still occur. However, the insurance guarantee is reduced 1 percent each day the crop is planted after the final planting date.
Farmers are required to provide a notice of loss to an insurance agent within 72 hours after the final planting date if they do not intend to plant the insured crop during the late planting period.
Once the final planting date arrives, farmers with a Common Crop Insurance (COMBO) product have the following options:
- Take prevented planting and not plant a crop to be harvested or grazed: Check with a crop insurance agent to determine the amount of payment received. While no field crop can be harvested in 2019, a cover crop can be planted if not harvested or grazed until after Nov. 1.
- Plant corn: No prevented planting payment will be received, and the guarantee will decrease throughout the late planting period as previously described.
- Plant another crop, primarily soybeans: No prevented planting payment will be received, but if the crop planted is eligible for crop insurance, it will be fully covered until that crop’s final planting date is reached.
- Take 35% of the corn prevented planting payment and plant another crop for harvest after the late planting period: The crop must be planted after the late planting period for corn, which ends 25 days after the final planting date. The insured would have to report 60% of their prior Corn APH for the crop year.
For a more in-depth look at prevented planting decisions, the following resources are available:
