Maryland Officials Encourage Crop Insurance, Boost Advertising Budget

Maryland agriculture officials are encouraging farmers to buy crop insurance.

Steve Connelly, an Agriculture Department marketing specialist, told The Salisbury Daily Times that the department is increasing its budget for advertising and translating insurance materials into other languages to promote the use of crop insurance. Connelly says the insurance helps farmers manage risk and offset losses.

The department is placing additional advertising reminders in trade publications about a Sept. 30 deadline for fall wheat and barley planting. Materials in Spanish, Korean and Vietnamese should also be available in September in local extension offices.

Department officials say 70 percent of Maryland’s corn acres have crop insurance, 80 percent of soybean and 50 percent of wheat acres.