Recently, the California Department of Insurance reminded farmers in the state that they may be eligible for protection against frost damage on their crops through their insurance company. It has encouraged farmers to make sure their policies are current and that they have enough coverage.
The advice is especially true for producers in the state's San Joaquin Valley, which has been affected by frost. Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner said the good news is that many farmers seem to have avoided being affected by frost.
"But all it takes is a particularly cold front to turn a normal harvest into a disaster," Poizner said.
Varying degrees of weather have made this year's harvest a difficult one for farmers across the country. For example, some producers in the Midwest and Northeast have had to contend with very wet conditions, which have delayed their ability to get crops out of the ground. Meanwhile, ranchers in New Mexico have been dealing with draught conditions.
