Crop insurance payments climbing at slower pace

In its latest twice monthly update, the National Crop Insurance Services trade association reported that as of late February farmers received more than $15.4 billion in payments for crops they had insured in 2012.

The report noted earlier predictions from other sources that payments would top $20 billion were probably overestimates.

According to the latest report, 19 states were on a list for receiving at least $1.05 in indemnity payments for every $1 in crop insurance premiums (farmer payments and federal government subsidies). Illinois was at the top of the list at $3.55 while the national average was $1.39 as of late February.

Other states that had already exceeded the 1.05 ratio on payments to premiums also included Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Kansas, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, Kentucky, Tennessee, New York, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.

Today (March 15) is the deadline for farmers to either purchase crop insurance for the first time in 2013 or to make changes in existing policies. This deadline applies to crops being planted in the coming months.