Currently 70 of the 97 commodities produced in Minnesota are uninsurable. Those commodities affected the most include organic crop and livestock production, direct market fruits and vegetables, and other horticultural and specialty crops.

AGR-Lite insurance is a product whereby producers can insure crop and livestock not currently insurable. The product is non-traditional in that it indemnifies against loss of gross farm revenue rather than yields although yield and price obviously make up farm revenue. The product insures any conventional crops currently insurable but also includes organic production without an increase in premium, fruits and vegetables, horticultural and greenhouse production as well as livestock production. This product should be available in Minnesota beginning in the 2007 production year.

The program effort Extension has available in this area includes printed information as well as a 90 minute presentation outlining AGR-Lite. Both outline the insurance product as to history, producer eligibility, commodity eligibility, guidelines and rules. Also included are examples to show how it might work for a producer including an example farm revenue calculation, coverage levels, loss examples, and procedures for combining AGR-Lite with other conventional insurances.

For additional information contact the following Extension Educators:

Bill Craig, 888-241-0781, craig030@umn.edu
Gary A. Hachfeld, 888-241-3214, hachf002@umn.edu