WA growers are being urged to sow their crops at optimum times for yields rather than factor in frost risk this season.

Latevo chief executive officer Andrew Trotter is encouraging growers take out multi peril crop insurance (MPCI) and make the common practice of delaying sowing for up to a month to avoid frost uncommon.

Mr Trotter said Grains Research and Development Corporation figures showed Australian growers lose $360 million annually in direct and indirect yield losses, particularly affecting western and southern cropping regions.

"WA growers right now have got good subsoil moisture, but the biggest risk is frost," he said.

"Frost can come and destroy you in spring.

"To deal with frost most people will delay planting to reduce the risk therefore decreasing their yield potential.

"I say, target for your yields and if you do get caught by frost then you have an insurance contract to support you."

Latevo has recently announced new underwriter Assetinsure to its product and is receiving applications for MPCI for the 2015 season until May 15.

Following applications, Latevo assesses financial records or profit, seeded hectares and yields in recent years and adjusts for factors such as grain fed to livestock before providing an insurance quote.

Mr Trotter said growers were offered a policy based on their income history and could rely on the policy as if it was salary insurance for someone who was a teacher or a nurse.

He said the key for WA growers with varying yields depending on the location of their property was insurance was based on actual figures of farm income, whether it be marginal or otherwise.

"It doesn't matter whether your long-term yield trend is 1.2 tonnes per hectare or 2.6t/ha, the program still fits with you because you're insuring for an income guarantee," Mr Trotter said.

Latevo MPCI covers for a number of risks to crop, beyond the traditional hail insurance held by many WA growers, including cyclone, frost, lightning and plant disease.

"When you have a hail claim on traditional insurance, you have an assessor come out and tell you how much he reckons it cost you, whereas we can see how much you actually lost based on figures following harvest," he said.

In 2014, Latevo paid out claims across the east coast following drought conditions in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

It also paid claims for frost damage in South Australia.

Source - http://www.farmweekly.com.au/