News

Prevent plant will include corn silage, and a lot of rules

A farm management specialist says prevented plant is the most confusing crop insurance product but it’s helping farmers get through this year.

“Most farmers that are taking large amounts of prevent plant payments will have low to even negative net incomes.”    

Gary Schnitkey with the University of Illinois tells Brownfield USDA’s Risk Management Agency has moved up the date farmers can harvest cover crops on prevent plant acres to after September 1 to accommodate for forage shortages.

“If another crop for harvest is planted on those acres, the prevent plant payment for corn will be lowered to 35 percent of its original.”    

He says farmers can plant cover crops 20 days after the late planting period, which is about now.

Corn planted as a cover crop for corn silage is eligible this year and Schnitkey says farmers can sell it.

“Dairy farmers that may be needing forage can plant corn.  If that crop of corn silage is made before September 1 there’s another set of rules.”       

An ag expert needs to recognize corn as an acceptable cover crop and production practices could differ.  Cereal rye, clovers and even soybeans, wheat and oats could also be considered.

Some ag groups are calling for USDA to move the harvest date to August 15 to allow for a quicker emergency forage and harvest two crops before the end of the season.

If farmers are just planning to plant a cover crop on prevent plant acres, Schnitkey advises potentially waiting until more details of the Market Facilitation Program are released before choosing.