Crops Insured

The tobacco policy covers the following tobacco types in Massachusetts:

• Types 51, 52—Cigar Binder
• Type 61—Cigar Wrapper

Counties Available

Tobacco is insurable in Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties. Tobacco in other counties may be insurable if specific criteria are met.

Causes of Loss

Adverse weather conditions; Failure of irrigation water supply; Fire; Insects; Plant disease; Wildlife

Insurance Period

Coverage begins at transplanting and ends at the earlier of: 1) Total destruction of the tobacco on the unit, 2) Removal of the tobacco from the unit where grown, except for curing, grading, and packing, 3) Abandonment of the crop on the unit, 4) Final adjustment of the loss on the unit, or 5) April 30.

Reporting Requirements

Acreage Report— An acreage report is due to your agent no later than July 15 for all your tobacco acreage in the county, by type.

Production Report— A production report for the previous crop year is due to your agent before April 30. A yield will be assigned if this information is not timely provided.

Basic Unit

A basic unit is all insurable acreage of an insurable type of tobacco in the county in which you have a share on the date of planting for the crop year and that is identified by a single Farm Service Agency farm serial number at the time insurance first attaches under these provisions for the crop year.

Important Dates

Sales Closing…. ................................. March 15

Final Planting Date—Type 61…. ......... June 10

Final Planting Date—Types 51, 52…. .. June 30

Acreage Report Date…. ........................ July 15

End of Insurance…. .............................. April 30