LUBBOCK, Texas — For cotton farmers in the South Plains, the planting deadline is quickly approaching.
To qualify for full insurance coverage, farmers Cochran, Crosby, most of Floyd, Gaines, Hale, Hockley, Lubbock, Terry and Yoakum counties must plant seeds by Friday, June 5. For counties southward, the deadline is June 10 or June 20.
“[The deadlines] are established based on agronomic conditions,” said Kody Bessent, CEO of Plains Cotton Growers. “Through university research trials, also through USDA guidelines for crop insurance policies when they’re purchased by a producer, and they look at historical climatic conditions.”
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Crop insurance largely protects against adverse weather conditions, like hail storms or drought. Farmers pay a premium and submit claims, similar to car or home insurance…