BULLETIN NO: MGR-96-036 TO: All Reinsured Companies All Risk Management Field Offices FSA Headquarters, Program Delivery and Field Operations FROM: Kenneth D. Ackerman Acting Administrator SUBJECT: Prevented Planting Coverage for Spring Wheat BACKGROUND: Many wheat producers in counties with only spring final planting dates plant winter wheat with the expectation of replanting spring wheat or another spring crop if the winter wheat fails. The 1996 winter wheat crop in some of these "spring only" counties has failed and growers have subsequently been prevented from planting spring wheat or other spring crops due to excessive rainfall and poor drying conditions. The Small Grains Crop Provisions and other crop policies with prevented planting coverage indicate that prevented planting coverage will not be provided for any acreage on which "any other crop is planted and fails, or is planted and harvested, hayed or grazed on the same acreage in the same crop year ...." An exception is provided for producers with limited or additional coverage if their acreage has a history of double-cropping in each of the last four crop years. However, this exception does not apply in spring-only counties because only one crop per year is normally grown. The provisions indicated above are intended to prevent a producer from receiving a benefit for a failed crop or income from a harvested crop, and an additional benefit for another crop that is prevented from being planted. They were not intended to exclude prevented planting benefits for a spring crop producer who is ineligible for coverage for a failed winter crop. ACTION: For the 1996 and succeeding crop years, a producer may be eligible for a prevented planting production guarantee for a spring-planted crop even though a fall-planted crop has been planted on the acreage. Such coverage will be provided only if: (1) The fall-planted crop fails and the producer is ineligible for crop insurance coverage or any other payment associated with the crop loss; (2) Failure of the fall crop occurs prior to the time that planting of spring crops normally begins in the county; (3) The producer does not continue to care for the failed winter crop or derive benefit from it by harvesting, haying or grazing the acreage; (4) The acreage is located in a county with spring final planting dates only; and (5) An insurance policy inclusive of prevented planting protection is in place for the spring crop that is intended to be planted. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Farm Service Agency P.O. Box 2415 Washington, DC 20013-2415 For: State and County Offices Prevented Planting Coverage in Counties With Spring-Only Final Planting Dates When a Fall Planted Crop Has Failed Approved by: Administrator, Risk Management 1 Overview ----------------------------------------------------------------- A Background Many wheat producers in counties with only spring final planting dates plant winter wheat with the expectation of replanting spring wheat or another spring crop if the winter wheat fails. The 1996 winter wheat crop in some of these "spring only" counties has failed and growers have subsequently been prevented from planting spring wheat or other spring crops due to excessive rainfall and poor drying conditions. The Small Grains Crop Provisions and other crop policies with prevented planting coverage indicate that prevented planting coverage will not be provided for any acreage on which "any other crop is planted and fails, or is planted and harvested, hayed or grazed on the same acreage in the same crop year...." An exception is provided for producers with limited or additional coverage if their acreage has a history of double-cropping in each of the last four crop years. However, this exception does not apply in spring-only counties because only one crop per year is normally grown. The provisions indicated above are intended to prevent a producer from receiving a benefit for a failed crop or income from a harvested crop, and an additional benefit for another crop that is prevented from being planted. They were not intended to exclude prevented planting benefits for a spring crop producer who is ineligible for coverage for a failed winter crop. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- B Purpose The purpose of this notice is to clarify prevented planting coverage in counties with spring-only final planting dates when a fall crop is planted and fails. 2 Action ------------------------------------------------------------------ Effective for the 1996 and succeeding crop years, a producer may be eligible for a prevented planting production guarantee for a spring-planted crop even though a fall-planted crop has been planted on the acreage. Such coverage will be provided only if: (1) The fall-planted crop fails and the producer is ineligible for crop insurance coverage or any other payment associated with the crop loss; (2) Failure of the fall crop occurs prior to the time that planting of spring crops normally begins in the county; (3) The producer does not continue to care for the failed winter crop or derive benefit from it by harvesting, haying or grazing the acreage; (4) The acreage is located in a county with spring final planting dates only; and (5) An insurance policy inclusive of prevented planting protection is in place for the spring crop that is intended to be planted. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Disposal Date | Distribution | January 1, 1997 | All FSA Offices; State Offices relay | to County Offices. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------