The rains we have seen lately have been a welcome relief from the drought conditions we have been suffering through for several years now, but for farmers, that rain has left their fields waterlogged, and that could end up costing them when it comes to crop insurance.

Because of the overabundance of water on some fields, farmer and their equipment have been left on hold, unable to plant.

Federal crop insurance requirements mandate that planting of cotton in our area has to be in the ground by April 15 to avoid penalty. If not, the farmers lose one-percent of insurance coverage every day until the eighth day, when their insurance reimbursement would be cut in half.

For grain sorghum, the deadline is April 5 to plant, and if they wait until the 26th, they will lose 60-percent coverage.

Congressman Blake Farenthold introduced the Farmer Flexibility Act to allow farmers until May to plant, but those who deal with farming issues are not s sure the Act will change things.

Source - http://www.kiiitv.com/