Some Illinois fruit producers will have another choice in crop insurance this year. The Risk Management Agency is offering the Supplemental Coverage Option to peach growers in four counties and apple growers in five. It is the first year for the provision, which came out of the 2014 farm bill. RMA executive Adrienne McTaggart brought producers up to date on the option during a fruit growers meeting here. “You have to get with an underlying policy. With peaches that would be an APH (Average Production History) policy,” she said. “SCO comes with a 65 percent premium subsidy on the SCO portion, regardless of the coverage level you choose.” It is available to growers in the state’s largest peach-producing counties: Union, Jackson, St. Clair and Calhoun. Apple growers in Union, Jackson, St. Clair, Calhoun and Jersey counties are eligible. Historical yields are based on numbers reported by producers and confirmed by authorities. “The producer would have to report their actual production,” McTaggart said. “There has to be at least four years there. If they don’t have the yields to make that up, we have to use county averages, and base their coverage on that.” McTaggart said she doesn’t have information on participation. Source - missourifarmertoday.com