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New Jersey One of 16 States Receiving Grant

For Immediate Release: December 16, 2013
Contact: Lynne Richmond
(609) 633-2954
lynne.richmond@ag.state.nj.us 

(TRENTON) – The New Jersey Department of Agriculture has been awarded a $282,000 crop insurance education grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) to ensure producers get the information they need to effectively manage risk and ensure their businesses are productive and competitive.

“This funding will help teach New Jersey farmers the best way to protect the investment they make in their crops and how to utilize crop insurance effectively,” said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher.  “Producers in our state must contend with a variety of challenges, such as flooding, drought and storm damage.”

This is the 13th year the Department has received the grant.  The funds will be used for education and outreach to producers so they are fully informed of existing and emerging crop insurance products. All educational activities undertaken will be structured to allow producers to have a true understanding of the kind of risks addressed by crop insurance; the features of existing and emerging crop insurance products; using crop insurance in managing risk; the impact of crop insurance on other risk management decisions; making an informed decision on crop insurance prior to sales closing date deadlines; and record keeping requirements of crop insurance.

The Department is partnering with the County of Salem and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Salem County for this risk management education program.

New Jersey is one of 45 states to benefit from $10 million allocated to two RMA programs, The Targeted States Program and The Risk Management Education Partnership Program.

Undergoing a period of historic performance, U.S. agriculture continues to be an area of growing strength in the American economy thanks to producers’ ability to manage risk, reduce their debt and capitalize on expanding market opportunities.  Currently, agriculture supports 1 in 12 jobs here in this country, from transportation to processing in both large and small businesses.

To learn more about crop insurance or a list of crop insurance agents in New Jersey, call the NJ Crop Insurance Education team at 1-800308-2449 or visit http://salem.rutgers.edu/cropinsurance.