Wyoming 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). The PRF Pilot Program is available in all Wyoming counties and in all adjoining states. Because November 15 falls on a Saturday in 2014, the effective sales closing date for the 2015 crop year is November 17. Interested producers are encouraged to soon visit with their crop insurance agent to learn additional program details. Producers should also ask their agent about recent program changes and seek help in reviewing their historical grid information. An agent locator tool is available on the RMA website at 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. In Wyoming, the PRF program is based on a vegetative index that allows producers to personalize their policy by choosing a specific 3-month coverage interval, 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://agforceusa.com/rma/vi/prf/maps. Using this tool, producers can see which years and coverage periods would have paid indemnities in the last twenty 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 Wyoming 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.