Crop Insurance Alternatives for Hay in South Dakota

Crop insurance for hay has been available statewide in South Dakota since the 2001 crop year. Producers across the state use the insurance to different degrees. Typically, in the northwest counties, more than 50% of hay acres are insured; while in the eastern counties, less than 10% of hay acres are insured. What follows is an overview of Forage Production insurance and a discussion of where it may be used and of coverage producers may select when using this risk management tool