BULLETIN NO.:  MGR-96-028

TO:       All Reinsured Companies
          All Risk Management Of
          FSA Headquarters, Program Delivery and Field Operations

FROM:     Kenneth D. Ackerman
          Acting Administrator

SUBJECT:  Greer, Harmon, Jackson and Tillman Counties, Oklahoma Cotton 
          Crop/Special Provisions of Insurance for the 1996 Crop Year

BACKGROUND:

The 1996 Special Provisions of Insurance Crop Year for irrigated and 
non-irrigated cotton in certain Oklahoma counties list the final planting 
date as June 20, 1996.  The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) has 
been advised that this date is set too late in the growing season to 
initially plant or replant irrigated indeterminant long staple "picker" type 
cotton in Greer, Harmon, Jackson, and Tillman counties, Oklahoma.

The nonirrigated cotton planted in this region is a determinant short staple 
"stripper" type cotton that matures early and fits the June 20 final planting 
date.  However, cotton planted on approximately 40,000 irrigated acres in 
southwestern Oklahoma is an indeterminant long staple "picker" type that 
requires a longer growing season.   If this irrigated type of cotton is 
planted after June 10, it suffers a significant decline in yield due to the 
reduced chance of obtaining the necessary heat degree days needed to make a 
crop.  Requiring producers to replant for June 10 could have a negative 
impact on the expected  yield. 

FCIC received numerous recommendations in support of moving the final 
planting date for this cotton from June 20 to June 10.   Documentation  
submitted from Oklahoma State University confirms the decline in irrigated 
indeterminant long staple "picker" type cotton yields when planted after June 
10.  

ACTION:

Due to documentation and support, we are amending the Oklahoma Cotton Special 
Provisions of Insurance for Greer, Harmon, Jackson, and Tillman Counties:

     FCIC has determined that the June 20 final planting date listed on the 
     Special Provisions of Insurance for Greer, Harmon, Jackson and Tillman 
     Counties, Oklahoma  is not correct for irrigated indeterminant long 
     staple "picker" type cotton.  For the 1996 crop year only, producers 
     will not be REQUIRED to initially plant or replant to irrigated 
     indeterminant long staple "picker" type cotton after June 10 in Greer, 
     Harmon, Jackson, and Tillman counties, Oklahoma.  

The Oklahoma Regional Service Office will submit a recommendation to change 
Special Provisions of Insurance final planting date from June 20 to June 10 
for irrigated indeterminant long staple "picker" type cotton in Greer, 
Harmon, Jackson and Tillman Counties, Oklahoma for the 1997 crop year.