Around The Vineyard

age tons per acre per variety and the price for that variety in the county.)

In some circumstances you will need to get direction from the adjuster before doing anything. What are your responsibilities after damage if the grapes have not matured properly and will not? What if they have been rendered unusable (smoketaint has been a major cause of this in California)?

Here is a section from the Grape Crop Provisions that goes over this:

11. Duties in the Event of Damage or Loss. In addition to the requirements of section 14 of the Basic Provisions, the following will apply:

(a) You must notify us within 3 days of the date harvest should have started if the crop will not be harvested.

(b) If the crop has been damaged during the growing season and you previously gave notice in accordance with section 14 of the Basic Provisions, you must also provide notice at least 15 days prior to the beginning of harvest if you intend to claim an indemnity as a result of the damage previously reported. You must not destroy the damaged crop that is marketed in normal commercial channels, until after we have given you written consent to do so. If you fail to meet the requirements of this section, all such production will be considered undamaged and included as production to count.

It is important to stay in contact with your adjuster during a claim.

A lot of things can happen to your vines that could cause them not to produce a full crop. The insurance period is long and it is important to report everything that may reduce your crop.

When you sign up for crop insurance, coverage for grapes starts on February 1 in Arizona and California. It begins on November 21 in all other states. The end of insurance unless it is otherwise specified by the USDA RMA, is October 10th in Mississippi and Texas, November 10 in Arizona, California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. In all other states the end of insurance is November 20th. Crop insurance is continuously in force, once signed up for, unless cancelled or terminated. Your coverage for following years, will be the day after the end of the insurance period for the prior year.

Here are the Causes of Loss per the Grape crop provisions:

(1) Adverse weather conditions;

(2) Fire, unless weeds and other forms of undergrowth have not been controlled or pruning debris has not been removed from the vineyard;

(3) Insects, except as excluded in 10(b)(1), but not damage due to insufficient or improper application of pest control measures;

(4) Plant disease, but not damage due to insufficient or improper application of disease control measures;

(5) Wildlife;

(6) Earthquake;

(7) Volcanic eruption; or

(8) Failure of irrigation water supply, if caused by an insured peril that occurs during the insurance period.

Adverse weather conditions could be anything that could cause damage to your grapes. For example; drought, frost, freeze, excess moisture etc. Wildlife could be bird damage, deer etc. Fire would also include smoke taint as that is a result of a fire.

Crop insurance does not cover, the inability to sell your grapes because of a buyer’s refusal or contract breakage. It also doesn’t cover losses from boycotts or pandemics. Phylloxera is not covered, regardless of the cause. Overspray or chemical damage from a neighboring farm is not covered either.

So, get those claims opened up early and stay in contact with your agent and adjuster.