Crop insurance is backed by the Risk Management Agency and necessary for nearly all the disaster relief programs administered by the Farm Service Agency included in the 2008 Farm Bill, said Jennifer Simon, county director for the Farm Service Agency. The deadline is designed for the majority of producers in the nation, Simon said.

“Sometimes deadlines are set up that work for some sections of Oregon, but not other sections,” she said. “Unfortunately for Klamath, in September, producers are still harvesting crops, harvesting grains, potatoes and some alfalfa is being harvested, so the last thing they’re thinking about is buying insurance for next year.”

May not qualify

That means if funds for programs such as the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program, which offsets losses for producers, or the Livestock Forage Program, which offsets losses of pasture and grass, become available, some otherwise eligible producers may not qualify for relief.

Nathan Jackson, interim executive director of the Klamath Watershed Partnership, wrote to Kulongoski near the end of March seeking his assistance in soliciting federal officials to reopen the deadline.

Jackson said many irrigators above Upper Klamath Lake have little experience with insuring their pastures and hay crops, and the 2008 Farm Bill requires insurance for federal programs, whereas previous farm bills did not.

“They’re not aware of the requirement that you have to have all your crops insured,” Jackson said. “It’s not that it’s the insurance, that’s not really the point. The point is the eligibility in the disaster relief.”

Jackson asked that the deadline be reopened for a maximum of 30 days.

Kulongoski last week sent letters to Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both D-Ore., and Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., asking them to consider Jackson’s request.

Merkley’s Deputy Communications Director Courtney Warner Cromwell said in an e-mail that Merkley met with USDA officials this week to discuss relief for the region.

“USDA stated that they will not be revisiting crop insurance deadlines,” Cromwell wrote. “They have informed Sen. Merkley that it would create problems with the delivery of crop insurance to those who have already signed up and isn’t allowed under the statutory language authorizing the program.”

Little can be done

Simon said although she thought the governor’s request was a positive move for Klamath County producers, nothing could be done on the local level to encourage the reopening of deadlines.

Tom Towslee, state communications director for Wyden, said the request has been discussed with the USDA.

“The department’s initial reaction was not encouraging,” Towslee said. “Nevertheless, Sen. Wyden understands the situation in the Klamath Basin and he will continue to work with the department in an attempt to provide economic relief to farmers in the Basin.”

Walden’s spokesman Andrew Whelan said Walden has also been told the sign-up period will not be reopened.

“Congressman Walden is certainly focused on disaster assistance and ways that it can be delivered to the Basin,” Whelan said.