BULLETIN NO.: MGR-97-031

TO:       All Reinsured Companies
          All Risk Management Field Offices
          Alabama State FSA Office

FROM:     Kenneth D. Ackerman
          Administrator

SUBJECT:  1997 Cotton Loss Adjustment Deviation for 27 Alabama Counties


BACKGROUND:

Alabama cotton producers in certain counties have experienced early season 
adverse weather which has had a detrimental effect on the potential for a 
normal harvest.  Approved loss adjustment procedure requires that a stand 
reduction appraisal be used to determine potential production until boll 
counts can be made as the crop matures.  Cool, wet weather has delayed normal 
crop progress to the extent that expected maturity for this time of year has 
not been achieved.  Although the plants in many fields appear to be healthy, 
crop experts have identified that the root systems have been diminished, 
plants are shorter than normal, and a significant reduction in flowering and 
boll set are anticipated.  Producers have requested that the Risk Management 
Agency (RMA) develop an appraisal method that would provide a more accurate
appraisal of the cotton crop's potential for this year's unusual weather 
conditions.

Producers that wanted to plant an alternate crop were allowed to leave 
representative samples to be appraised later when a more accurate appraisal 
could be made.  The producers were required to continue to care for those 
representative samples as though they were still caring for the entire crop.  
This allowed the producers to destroy the cotton acreage around the 
representative samples and plant the acreage to another crop.

The representative sample areas have affected the boll weevil eradication 
efforts of the State.  Eradication officials have indicated that the strips 
represent a hindrance to their control efforts, and have asked that the 
representative sample areas be destroyed as soon as possible.  Additionally, 
crop conditions in general have continued to deteriorate in the area.  In 
order to release such acreage and provide appraisals that account for crop 
conditions and adverse weather, the Cooperative Extension Service, in 
conjunction with RMA, has developed an appraisal deviation which provides a 
reasonable assessment of the crop's ultimate potential.

ACTION:

Effective immediately for the 1997 crop year ONLY, insurance providers are 
authorized to use the following approved appraisal deviation for cotton in 
the Alabama counties of Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Colbert, Cullman, 
DeKalb, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, 
Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Pickens, Saint Clair, 
Shelby, Talledega, Tuscaloosa, Winston, and Walker County, Alabama.

Appraisal Method

If cotton in the designated Northern Alabama counties has less than 1.0 
square per foot of row, appraise the potential as zero.  

Effective only between July 20 and August 1, to determine the yield potential 
for cotton that has more than 1.0 square per foot of row, the following 
method may be used. 

For each sample, select representative rows comprising 100 feet.  A 
combination of rows totaling 100 feet is acceptable.  

From the samples, only count first and second position fruiting forms 
(squares, blooms or bolls).  Do not count any fruiting forms on the top three 
nodes of the plant.  To determine where to begin counting fruit, count the 
terminal (uppermost unfurreled main stem leaf) as zero and count nodes
down the plant, i.e., 0, 1, 2, 3, then start counting fruiting forms.  The 
first position fruiting site is the first site on each fruiting branch and 
the second is the next site on that branch.  Refer to the diagram in Figure 1. 

Determine the average number of fruiting forms per row foot by dividing the 
total number counted by the number of row feet in the sample.   

Multiply the average number of fruiting forms per row foot by the appropriate 
Multiplication Factor based on row width (see table below) to determine the 
Estimated Potential in pounds of lint per acre.  

                                        
          Row Width           Multiplication Factor    
          40 inches                 8.06
          38 inches                 8.48
          30 inches                10.75

Specific instructions:

1    Apply the appraisal deviation in the 27 authorized Alabama counties ONLY.

2    Verify that insurable causes have contributed totally to the reduced 
     production potential identified for this deviation.

3    Refer to this Bulletin number in the "Remarks" section of the appraisal 
     worksheet for authorization to use this deviation.

4    Document the results of the counts and calculations on the appraisal 
     worksheet or other appropriate document to be maintained in the file.

5    Any appraisals made after this deviation expires must be deferred until 
     boll counts can be made.  Producers must continue to care for the crop 
     or representative strips until the claim is final.


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