Ranchers have until November 15 to enroll in the Livestock Risk Management program. South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association President Eric Jennings is hopeful changes that have been made to that program will make it valuable for livestock producers.

He says crop insurance has worked well for grain producers and the hope is that RMA has patterned the Livestock Risk Management program after the crop program.

Jennings says it’s positive RMA has allowed alfalfa and irrigated hay to be included in the livestock insurance program.

Coverage levels between 70 percent and 90 percent are available and once that coverage is selected the producer chooses a productivity factor between 60 percent and 150 percent. That productivity factor is a percentage of established county base value for forage.