4-foot drifts
Clemens on Saturday was waiting or a payloader to push a tree branch away from his driveway. A four-foot drift stood in front of the shed with the pickup. Farmers through the east-central part of the state were socked with 20 to 30 inches of snow accumulation on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. "I can't blow it," he said. "Too much for my Massey Ferguson-11 loader. Snow is wet and heavy." Roads were coated with slush. "My guess is the soybeans are full of snow, 12 inches deep." Ditto for the corn with snow banks on the west and north sides. "Fields were impassable before this with mud. We'll have overland water when the snow melts." Clemens thinks there will be no hope for any harvest for several weeks. His plan for corn is to wait until February or March to try to get the corn until the frost goes out." Some will probably wait until May. "Would you drive your combine on a lake with 2-3 inches of ice?" Clemens says. "Fields will be no different. It is likely the crops will sustain irreparable quality damage. It isn't entirely clear how crop insurance companies will handle the damage. Moisture content itself is not an insured loss. Only yield loss due to kernel damage or failure. Crop insurance can zero-out cereal crops — wheat, durum, barley — after Oct. 31. Corn and soybeans policies can be zeroed out after Dec. 10. How smoothly that happens remains to be seen. Clemens recalled struggles farmers had with insurance companies in 2003 when an early frost hit the region's corn crop. Once zeroed out, the farmer is responsible for destroying what is in the field and not scavenging for anything that has been indemnified. Clemens didn't plant dry edible beans this year, but thinks they'll have to deal with quality issues — mud smears, and darkening colors. "They may sprout, ruining the sample and they will possibly be too wet to deliver." Source - https://www.agweek.comUSA - Farmers stuck in mud, then snow as historic October blizzard follows wet September
14.10.2019 187 views2024 AgroInsurance International Conference: New Partners and Agenda updates
26.02.20242024 AgroInsurance International Conference will take place on June 3-5, 2024 in Belgrade, Serbia, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Planet Labs (USA) and GAF AG (Germany) are sponsors of our conference. Agremo (Serbia) has been confirmed as the Organization Partner. More partners and sponsors to be announced in March 2024.
Spain - 30% of La Palma's banana production has already been lost due to the advance of the lava
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Kenya - How crop insurance is transforming agriculture
Kenyan farmers continue to face challenges due to unpredictable weather conditions. As a result, they are turning to insurance coverage for their crops and livestock. Insurance experts have reported that most farmers who are insuring their crops are smallholders who rely on rain-fed agriculture and use low-technology farming methods.
USA - How spring temperature fluctuations, early blooms are impacting Centre County fruit farmers
Plenty of people in Centre County got outside to enjoy temperatures in the 60s and 70s earlier this month, but spring weather fluctuations continue to cause concern for local fruit farmers.
USA - Farmers use helicopters to warm crops amid spring freezes
An early spring this year means more work for farmers as early blooms face freezing temperatures. Les Dozier's Sta-N-Step Farms has served Northwest Arkansas since 1989. His farm is one of many facing freezing temperatures that could ruin crops.
Ireland - Potato will be scarce by June, farmers praying for rain to stop
Farmers have to "watch, hope and pray" for a "sweet spot" of dry weather in the coming weeks or many will have to debate whether to plant at all this year. As continuous rainfall adds to already saturated ground, many big and small potato farmers are warning that the Irish favourite variety of Rooster may be in scarce supply by June.
USA - Several metro Atlanta counties declared natural disaster zones after severe drought
More than 30 Georgia counties — including 10 in metro Atlanta — have been designated “primary natural disaster areas” by the United States Department of Agriculture, the agency announced Thursday.
Turkey - Climate change may affect grape cultivation
A recent study has highlighted the impact of the climate crisis on viticulture in Turkey, predicting that the expected rise in temperatures and reduced rainfall could shift the suitability of vineyard regions for grape production over the next three decades.
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