Describe the Issue or Situation.

As growers in Kentucky move to high density apple production systems, the coverage years and amounts of the current crop insurance policies offered for these crops vastly underestimates potential production. This leaves growers adopting these systems at greater financial risk. An updated policy langue needed to be developed, and FSA staff needed to be trained to administer these policies.

Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).

The UK Fruit team has been working directly with the FSA, including Maeci Moore, Ag Program specialist to create a science backed policy that fits will into the actuarial nature of these policies. We have focused on coming up with easy metric to estimate potential yield for plantings based on planting density and tree size to make sure policies account for true yield potential in young high density apple plantings. We are partnering with a commercial grower, Brandon Barnett of Bourbon County and his local FSA to demonstrate this system. We also brought members of FSA to the UK research and Extension Orchard to demonstrate this process, and presented information to crop adjustors at the Lexington USDA office.

Provide the Number and Description(s) of Participants/Target Audience.

The target audience is commercial apple growers and the insurance adjustors working with them. 

Provide a Statement of Outcomes or Program Impact. 

This program will allow for high density apple producers to be at less financial risk in young plantings by allowing for the true values of their crop potential to be understood by insurance adjustors with adequate and easy to follow language in their policies.