The final planting dates have now passed for corn and soybeans in the region, but farmers are still making planting and crop insurance decisions. Glenda Blindert, crop insurance agent with Blindert Insurance Agency in Salem, South Dakota says prevented plant payments on corn verses soybeans have played into those decisions.

She says complicating the process has been the confusion about the MFP program and how the disaster bill would impact the prevented plant payment. Blindert is doubtful the buyup would be at 90-percent for PP, but says there is no clear answer yet.

Blindert says farmers that are taking prevented plant have 72 hours to contact their crop insurance agent, but she says they should reach out with any questions prior to that.

Blindert says they’re hopeful USDA or Congress will get the date moved up for haying and grazing prevented plant forage crops to assist livestock producers. That date is now November 1.