Monroe County offers crop insurance
education for farmers and growers

Diversified farmers and growers have an opportunity to learn more about innovative risk management tools designed for large and small-scale producers of multiple crops. Adjusted Gross Revenue (known also as AGR and AGR-Lite depending on the size of the operation) is a whole-farm revenue protection approach for which most farm-raised crops and livestock are eligible. The policy insures against the loss of revenue due to weather and fluctuations in market price, according to information provided by Agricultural Specialist Bob King.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County will hold two workshops at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on January 14 at 249 Highland Avenue, Rochester. The workshops will provide an opportunity for agricultural producers and other professionals to learn more about crop insurance and are free of charge. These workshops are timed to precede the AGR sales closing date of January 31.

Both workshops will last three hours and provide detail about AGR-Lite and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program along with farm case studies. The afternoon session at Monroe County Cooperative Extension will focus on Multiple Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) and Crop Revenue Coverage (CRC) of importance to producers of grain, vegetables and field crops.

The AGR educational sessions cover: 1) new risk management tools, 2) experience period of vulnerability due to crop, animal, or market income loss, 3) planning the growth of an operation, 4) strategic thinking, and 5) the role of crop insurance in building farm capacity.

Space for the free workshop is limited, preregistration is encouraged. For information, contact Bob King at 585-461-1000 ext. 239, or by email at rnk2@cornell.edu.