With the AgriStability deadline right around the corner, Norm Gueutal, team coordinator,
Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC), is encouraging producers to start looking into the program to see if it’s a fit for their operation. “AgriStability provides ‘whole farm’ coverage for all commodities and perils that are not necessarily covered through other forms of insurance. Coverage is specific to your farm operation.” This includes non-traditional farms like market gardens and greenhouses.
Producers can experience significant margin declines due to any number of circumstances, such as production shortfalls, falling commodity prices, and/or rising costs. AgriStability helps mitigate against the unknowns, and the low program fees make it desirable for producers. “Fees are based on $315 for every $100,000 of reference margin, and the reference margin is determined by the prior year’s information on tax, accruals, and inventory changes” says Gueutal. As an added bonus this year, producers can now pay their AgriStability fees online or by telephone.
If producers are enrolled in the program and have received a fee notice, they need to make a decision before the April 30 deadline. New participants, or producers who previously opted out of the program, must notify AFSC by April 30 that they wish to participate in the program. New participant forms for individuals and corporations are available on the
AFSC website.
Source : Agriculture and Forestry