November 15 Sales Closing Date Approaches for Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF) Program

November 15 Sales Closing Date Approaches for Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF) Program New Mexico producers are reminded of the November 15 sales closing date for the Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF) Program, administered by the USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA). Because November 15 falls on a Sunday in 2015, the effective sales closing date for the 2016 crop year is November 16, 2015. Interested producers are encouraged to visit with their crop insurance agent to learn additional program details, including important program changes for 2016. Specifically, for 2016, producers in all 48 contiguous states will now be able to purchase the PRF Program. Further, participation in all states will now utilize a Rainfall Index, rather than the Vegetative Index previously used in New Mexico and several other Western states. Full program information is available on RMA’s PRF web page(http://www.rma.usda.gov/policies/pasturerangeforage/). An agent locator tool is also available on the RMA website (http://www.RMA.USDA.gov). The PRF program is designed to give forage and livestock producers the ability to buy protection for losses of forage produced for haying and/or grazing. The PRF program is based on a rainfall index that allows producers to personalize their policy by choosing at least two specific 2-month coverage intervals, a coverage level between 70 to 90 percent, and a productivity factor anywhere between 60 and 150 percent of the county base value. When applying for coverage, producers will also need to allocate the percentage of the total value for their operation. History for each grid and interval across covered areas can be found at http://maps.agforceusa.com. Using this tool, producers can see which years and coverage periods would have paid indemnities in past years based on hypothetical coverage levels in selected grids. Producers are strongly encouraged to use this tool to help make purchase and coverage level decisions. Not all acres that are grazed need to be insured, but producers must have an insurable interest in the acres covered. An insurable interest, defined as the right to graze the property, must be documented. To speak with a rancher who has analyzed and purchased this product, producers are encouraged to contact Brett Crosby, President of Wyoming-based Custom Ag Solutions (CAS), at 307-548-9636. Crosby is also a Wyoming rancher who is well versed in the complex risk management decisions facing livestock producers. Custom Ag Solutions works with RMA and other partner organizations to educate New Mexico producers about risk management and Federal crop insurance programs. More information about Federal crop insurance programs, including RMA’s Pasture, Rangeland, Forage Program, can be found at the RMA website, www.rma.usda.gov. To receive information by mail, call CAS at 877-227-8094. USDA, RMA, and CAS are equal opportunity providers.