Although many farmers carry insurance on their crops and livestock, insurance isn’t always available for everything that can be grown or produced. For example, with many specialty crops, such as vegetables and fruits, floriculture, nursery, or livestock forage, private insurance for losses from weather damage may not be available. That’s why the USDA’s Farm Service Agency offers help to producers through the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, which provides financial assistance to producers of noninsurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory or prevented plantings occur because of natural disasters. The program has existed for 21 years. For the majority of that time, it provided only catastrophic coverage for losses of more than 50 percent of expected production. That catastrophic coverage – still available – pays 55 percent of the average market price. Today, not only does the program provide a safety net for specialty crop producers working to make healthy fruits and vegetables available to more consumers, the program also covers aquaculture, turf grass, ginseng, honey, syrup and even organic and energy crops. Higher levels of coverage are available for losses up to 65 percent of production and 100 percent of the average market price. Basic coverage fees are $250 per crop or $750 per producer per administrative county, whichever is less. No producer pays more than $1,875. In fact, for beginning, traditionally underserved or limited-resource producers, the catastrophic coverage is free and premiums for higher levels of protection are discounted by 50 percent. For spring planted crops in Kentucky, the deadline to apply is March 15. Interested farmers of all types are encouraged to to visit the Hardin/LaRue Farm Service Agency office to learn more about the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. The office is on Lincoln Parkway at the intersection with Sportsman Lake Road. Remember that deadline is next week. Spring Seedings. There have been several questions the past couple of weeks on spring seeding times and rates. The best source of information on these two requests is the University of Kentucky Agronomy Publi­cation, AGR-18, “Grain and Forage Crop Guide,” which is free at the Hardin County Extension Service office and is available at www.hardinext.org. Recommendations on spring seedings for grasses (tall fescue, bluegrass, orchardgrass, and Timothy) is mid-February through the middle of April. Annual ryegrass seedings should begin later on March 15 with perennial ryegrass even later with seeding not recommended before mid-April. Both types of ryegrass seedings should be completed by mid-May. Seeding rate varies by grass species and also depends on whether or not the forage is being sown as a “straight-stand” or mixed with other forage crops. Typically, seeding rates are decreased about a third when mixed stands are established, but again that depends on the species being sown. Seeding rates range from 6 to 30 pounds per acre for grasses with Timothy having the lowest per acre rate and ryegrass the highest. Those producers sowing fescue are urged to consider using a non- or low-endophyte variety or one of newer novel-endophyte varieties to improve animal performance. UK also annually publishes variety trial test results on the most commonly grown forages in Kentucky. But legumes are what most producers are interested in sowing this time of year to improve hay and pasture quality. These include alfalfa, clovers, lespedezas and crown vetch. The general seeding date for these begins Feb. 1 through15 for all the clovers and annual lespedeza. For alfalfa and perennial lespedeza, that date is March 15 and for crown vetch, it’s April 1. Generally, all these legumes should be sown by mid-April except for crown vetch, which can be sown through the middle of May. Here, too, seeding rates per acre vary quite a bit by species and whether or not the legume is sown in a mixture. In most cases, legumes need to be inoculated so they produce nodules and are able to “fix” nitrogen. Seeding depth for all these forages is quite shallow: in most cases only a quarter of an inch and a half-inch at the most. All new seedings require a firm seedbed, except for clovers. They can be overspread on grass pasture and hay fields that have been grazed or mowed off close to the ground to lessen competition. Natural freezing and thawing, as well as snow and rain, can help incorporate clover seed into the ground for germination. Cattle also can be used to tramp clover seed into soft, damp soils. And, of course, mechanical seeders — those that seed by non-till and conventional methods — can be used. It’ll cost you approximately $30-plus per acre for seed and application costs to seed clover into a hay or pasture field plus any additional fertilizer or lime that may be needed. If you put some economic numbers to the benefits of clover, this is what you can expect in return: 2 to 3 tons additional yield of hay per acre, which can amount to $70 to $175 per acre; 25 to 50 pounds of additional weaning weight per calf, which is another $40 to $75; a 10 to 20 percent increase in conception rate, which translates into more calves born at $750 per weaned calf; and you can reduce your nitrogen fertilization cost per acre. So with all things considered, renovating pasture fields with clover makes good economic sense. Remember to always use certified seed of improved varieties that are recommended for Kentucky growing conditions. Again, UK’s annual Forage Variety Trial Results are the best place to obtain a complete list of recommended varieties. Source - thenewsenterprise.com