Revenue Crop Protection Available In Six Pa. Counties HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Diversified fanners in six Pennsylvania counties are now eligible for an innovative whole farm insurance revenue insur ance pilot program called the Adjusted Gross Revenue Crop Insurance Program. This new crop insurance is available in Berks, Carbon, Lack awanna, Lehigh, Monroe, and Northampton counties for the 2001 insurance year, according to John Berry, agricultural mar keting agent. “The whole farm insurance should work well for Pennsylva nia’s family farms that grow multiple crops. Many of these di versified producers have few op tions under traditional crop in surance programs,” said Berry. The adjusted gross revenue in surance plan provides insurance based on the lesser of the individ ual producer’s previous five-year average Schedule F tax informa tion or the expected revenue for the insurance year. This single insurance product covers all agri cultural commodities produced by the policyholder. Expanding the whole farm pilot program will provide more experience in insuring whole farm income throughout the U.S. A listing of crop insurance agents is available at local Farm Service Agency offices and USDA Service Centers. Sales closing date for AGR is Jan. 31, 2001. The Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) insurance plan is a non traditional whole farm risk man agement tool. The AGR concept uses a producer’s historic Sched ule F tax form information as a base to provide a level of guaran teed revenue. AGR: • Provides an insurance safety net for multiple agricultural commodities in one insurance product. • Establishes a common de nominator for commodity pro duction cash receipts. • Makes simple and straight forward use of income tax forms. • Reinforces program credita bility by using Internal Revenue Service tax forms and regula tions. The AGR product provides the producer protection against low farm revenue due to un avoidable causes. Covered farm revenue is income from agricul tural commodities reported on the Schedule F tax form, includ ing incidental amounts of income from animals and animal prod ucts and aquaculture reared in a controlled environment. Inciden tal livestock income represents the crop production value fed to livestock. AGR protection is calculated by multiplying the approved gross revenue times the percent coverage level and payment rate selected by the producer. The ap proved gross revenue is the smaller of the average of the pro ducer’s prior five years of Sched ule F tax information. The aver age gross revenue can be adjusted for expanded operations or expected revenue for the in surance year. For example, a producer with a $lOO,OOO approved gross reve nue who chose 80/75 coverage would have $60,000 protection ($lOO,OOO x 80 percent coverage x 75 percent payment). Loss payments are triggered when the adjusted gross income for the insured year is less than the loss inception point. The loss inception point is calculated by multiplying the approved gross revenue by the chosen percent coverage (65, 75, or 80). Once a loss is triggered, the payment rate is 75 percent of the revenue shortfall. Loss payment for this example would trigger when the income for the insurance year is below $BO,OOO ($lOO,OOO x 80 percent coverage). Chesapeake Bay States Sign Animal Waste Transport Agreement ANNAPOLIS, Md. Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania have signed an agreement to vol untarily monitor the use of ani mal waste transferred between the three Chesapeake Bay Pro gram states. The proper use of manure and other nutrient sources is one of the leading goals to curb agricultural im pacts to the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. “The transport of animal waste for fertilizer or other uses takes on added importance as we continue efforts to restore water quality in the Bay and the rivers that feed it,” said David G. Brickley, director of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. “This memorandum of understanding helps to ensure these wastes are used to effec tively add nutrients to croplands, and not to nearby waters.” Brickley chaired the Chesa- Lancaster Farming, Saturday. January 6, 2001-A35 Producer eligibility require ments include: • Filed five consecutive years of Schedule F tax forms. For 2000, the 1994-1998 tax years. • Produces eligible commodi ties. • U.S. citizen or resident. • Files calendar year farm tax return. • No more than 50 percent of allowable income is earned from purchase and resale of agricul tural commodities. • No more than 35 percent of allowable income is from animals peake Bay Program Task Force land application to ensure proper that drafted the MOU. rates and timings of applications Nonpoint source pollution, in- regardless of destination, eluding the runoff of animal • All transport incentive pro waste, is the leading source of the grams must adhere to the nutri °r r a l | >un^anc , e n ‘Jr°i en ent management practices of the phosphorus entering the Bay and receivi as a condition of its tnbutanes. Too much of these .. . .. m nutrients in the water lead to a ™ g the “icentive, or may shortage of oxygen, which nega- 0311 foT t additional requirements tively impacts living resources as P art a contractual agree and their habitats in the Bay wa- ment tershed. * States to annually share “Our past success in nutrient summary data on the quantity management planning has in- and destination of animal waste creased the need to find alterna- transferred out of state as the re lives for manure,” said Mary- suit of a transport incentive pro land’s MOU signatory Dr. Henry gram. A. Virts, Maryland Agriculture The MOU also creates a Ches- Secretary. apeake Bay Program Animal “Transport to farms where Waste Distribution and Use manure can provide a direct ben- Technology Task Force, efit is proving feasible. As with „ We see this force a !"I S .Lr a v y key to future cooperative ef voluntary cooperative action is ,f. „ „ the key to coordinating these f orts ’ Pennsylvania Secre transportation efforts.” JfT of l A^“ lture S*™™ l E - The MOU is the result of a di- Ha y es ’ Jr - This wIU not rective signed by the Chesapeake only work to promote coopera- Executive Council which is com- don but to share technological prised of the governors of the progress and discuss emerging is three states, the District of Co- sues as well.” lumbia Mayor, the U.S. Environ- For more information about mental Protection Agency Ad- the Interstate Animal Waste Dis ministrator and the Chesapeake tribution Memorandum of Un- Bay Commission Chairman. derstanding, visit the Chesa “All three have success- peake Bay Program website at fill programs working with farm- http://www.chesapeakebay.net/ ers to properly use animal wastes p ress and other fertilizers/’ said Vir- The Chesapeake B p, szfszui w“ r : j- -r 8 F B h ay water r “For example, each state devel- a Partnership the f oped new processes that recycle P* lstr ‘ ct Columbia, State of animal waste into energy and Maryland, Commonwealth of valuable commercial fertilizer Pennsylvania, Commonwealth of products. This MOU strengthens Virginia, the U.S. Environmental these programs and better coor- Protection Agency representing dinates them with all Bay the federal government, the states.” Woodley signed the Chesapeake Bay Commission, agreement for Virginia. and participating citizen advi- The new MOU calls for: sory groups. State pro grams overseeing v ~ a " imal w “ ,e for ► PAINTING i All Types 1 r Interior/Exterior j lncluding Aerial Work \ Specialists in Sand Blasting and w Spray Painting Farm Buildings, L Feed Mills, Roofs, Tanks, Etc. k Also Roof Coating • Water Blasting L • Waterproofing on Stone and A W Brick Buildings j [ Fisher’s Painting i 4056A Newport Rd. and animal products. • Must have Multi Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) when more than 50 percent of allowable in come is from insurance crops. This summary is for general il lustration only. Please contact a private insurance agent to learn more details about AGR and other crop insurance products. Fisher’s Painting 4056 A Newport Rd. Kinzers, PA 17535 On Rt. 772 Across From Pequea Valley School 717'768'3239 ► ► a •4fc-*4efletW**-ewwiliWaMßl
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