Helena, Mont. – Spring is a busy time of year for Montana farmers, with field preparation, planting decisions and seeding. It is also a time to start thinking about protecting crops from hail damage until fall harvest. The Montana State Hail Insurance program has provided hail insurance coverage to help Montana farmers manage hail risk for 98 years.
For the 2015 season, producers can insure crops against hail damage at the maximum coverage rate of $75 per acre for dryland and $114 for irrigated land. Rates charged are a percentage of the insured amount and vary by county depending on the hail loss history of an area. A detailed list of rates by county and crop can be found on the program’s website.
Applicants can now conveniently manage policy payments securely with e-checks or credit/debit cards. Traditional payment methods are still available. To purchase state hail coverage, producers should contact the State Hail Insurance program office by mail, fax, or phone. State hail insurance coverage forms are still available at Montana State University Extension, Conservation District, and county revenue offices.
An application for insurance and more details about payment options will be mailed to producers who previously purchased state hail insurance. For new policy applicants, information and applications are also available at http://agr.mt.gov/agr/Producer/HailInsurance/. Completed forms can be mailed or faxed to the department or used as a reference when you contact the office by phone.
Contact Information: Montana State Hail Insurance Program, P.O. Box 200201, Helena, MT 59620. Phone: (406) 444-5429 Toll Free: 1 (844) 515-1571 Fax: (406) 444-9422.
The Montana State Hail Insurance program was created at the request of producers in 1917 to provide basic hail insurance coverage on any crop grown in Montana. The program is directed by a five-member board consisting of the department director, state insurance commissioner, and three executive appointees.
The Montana Department of Agriculture’s mission is to protect producers and consumers, and to enhance and develop agriculture and allied industries. For more information on the department, visit agr.mt.gov.
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