New WSU precision ag director; Livestock Risk Protection
Washington Ag Today July 6, 2010 An agricultural automation scientist at Washington State University, Qin Zhang, has been named the new director of WSU’s Center for Precision Agricultural Systems headquartered in Prosser. Zhang, who served as the center’s assistant director for the past year, assumed his new duties July 1st. He succeeds Frances Pierce the founding director of the precision ag center. Pierce is the newly elected president of the American Society of Agronomy but he will be working on a number of continuing major research projects and grants. July 1st marked the beginning of the 2011 crop year for Livestock Risk Protection insurance that is available in all Washington counties. LRP insurance plans include fed cattle, feeder cattle, lamb and swine. It protects the policy holder from downward price risk during the insurance period but does not cover any other peril such as disease. Jo Lynne Seufer with the USDA’s Risk Management Agency in Spokane provides an example of how a cattlemen may use LRP. Seufer: “It is really a good opportunity for the cow-calf producer that says I think I‘m going to market my calves at about 600 pounds come November. They can go to our website and pick that price at the same time they are going to market them. If the prices is less than what was out there, they‘ell get the difference.” Livestock Risk Protection is a two step process. Producers must submit an application. Once approved the producer activates the coverage at any time by applying for a Specific Coverage Endorsement. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on Northwest Aginfo Net. ?
