|
This page is sponsored by Atlantic Tractor
11 locations to serve all your agricultural needs! Click on the logo to visit their web-site. |
 |
Maryland Department of Ag Receives $370,000 for crop insurance education
|
This page is sponsored by Atlantic Tractor
11 locations to serve all your agricultural needs! Click on the logo to visit their web-site. |
|
Maryland Department of Ag Receives $370,000 for crop insurance education
11.02.04
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman announced that the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) is the recipient of $370,000 in funding to conduct intensive crop insurance education and information programs. The MDA is partnering with the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension and the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) to increase farmer awareness and use of federal crop insurance.
“Under Agriculture Secretary Lewis Riley’s leadership, Maryland has worked aggressively to strengthen Maryland’s agricultural economy, including promoting crop insurance,” said Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. “This partnership funding gives us the ability to expand our successful risk management education programs for the benefit of our farmers.”
“Crop insurance is an extremely valuable risk management tool for our farmers - it makes the bad years and unexpected production losses survivable,” said Secretary of Agriculture Lewis R. Riley. “This educational and promotional effort is now in its third year and is having a positive impact on the farm community.”
Crop insurance participation is climbing in Maryland. In 2004, participation increased by 14 percent from 2003 - the highest increase in the Northeast. In 2003, Maryland farmers received $11.3 million in indemnity payments from crop insurance. Producers spent $3.3 million to pay for crop insurance premiums in 2003.
“This project is an excellent use of the combined skills of the University and MDA,” said Dr. Bruce Gardner, interim dean of the University of Maryland’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. “Our ag economists and educators are able to provide Maryland farmers with financial risk management educational tools to increase their success, while MDA is able to use its marketing and leadership savvy to get the message in the right hands.”
The RMA funding is part of the Targeted States Program which uses $4.4 million to deliver crop insurance education to producers in 15 historically underserved states through cooperative agreements.