14 December 2022, US: It’s the time of year to spend some quality time with your family, shake mummies and make insurance decisions. The almond crop insurance deadline is coming up on December 31, 2022. Here are a few important reminders to keep in mind when making decisions.
Actual Production History (APH)
APH policies insure producers against yield losses due to natural causes such as drought, excessive moisture, hail, wind, frost, insects, and disease.
The farmer selects the amount of average yield they wish to insure, ranging between 50-85%. The farmer also selects the percent of the predicted price he or she wants to insure, between 55-100% of the crop price.
This year’s almond crop price is set at $2.00/lbs (Organic Almond price is $3.00/lbs)
If final production is less than the yield guarantee, an indemnity is paid on the difference. The indemnity is calculated by multiplying this difference by the price selected at sign up and the insured share in the crop.
4th and 5th Leaf Coverage
Almonds are not insurable until they hit 6th leaf under the standard APH program. However, 5th leaf almonds are insurable via written agreement. And 4th leaf almonds are eligible for an Almond Freeze program through some AIP’s which protects against freeze during the bloom period. With new varieties coming into full production sooner, be sure you have your crop protected.
Whole Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP)
If you’re growing multiple crops, WFRP provides a risk management safety net for all commodities on the farm under one insurance policy. This insurance plan is tailored for any farm with up to $17 million in insured revenue, including farms with specialty or organic commodities. This policy covers revenue rather than traditional yield based policies (APH) and could be a good alternative (or used in conjunction) to your current risk management program.
Additional questions to consider
Here are some additional questions to ask your agent this renewal season to ensure you are maximizing your coverage:
Does OU or BU unit structure make the most sense for my operation? Why?
Has there been a change in ownership of our company? Any owners with greater than 15% must be reported on the application.
Are there any new crop shares? Have any existing agreements changed?
Take control of your risk and gain greater peace of mind
Your FBN® Insurance agent can tailor a specialty crop insurance policy to meet the specific needs of your operation. Learn more about this program or connect with an agent by filling out the form below or calling (877)-576-4468.
