In a perfect world, the weather would cooperate and you’d get all the crops planted early. But if weather delays or prevents planting and you have Federal Crop Insurance, it’s essential to contact your insurance agent immediately.

You can find the details in a new publication from the University of Minnesota Extension Service titled “Federal Crop Insurance: Delayed and Prevented Planting Provisions.” It was written by regional Extension educator Gary Hachfeld and Kim Lee of Crop Insurance Services, Mankato.

Delayed planting on the insured acres must be due to a weather event, not personal choice. And under the “prevented planting” provision, the weather conditions that kept a producer from planting must be general and widespread to the area, Hachfeld says.

The new publication includes changes for the 2004 crop year, coverage definitions and examples. You can find it on the University’s Center for Farm Financial Management Web site at http://www.cffm.umn.edu.