SECRETARY GLICKMAN REMINDS PRODUCERS ABOUT CROP INSURANCE SALES CLOSING

                                             Release No. 0394.97
                                        
                                        Tom Amontree (202) 720-4623  
                                             tamontree@usda.gov
                                   Eric Edgington (202) 690-2539


SECRETARY GLICKMAN REMINDS PRODUCERS ABOUT CROP INSURANCE SALES CLOSING
DATES

     WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 1997--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today
reminded producers in specific states who grow fall-planted grains, like
wheat, barley, and oats, that they need to obtain federal crop insurance by
the October 31 sales closing date. Sales closing dates are significant
because growers must make all of their decisions on crop insurance coverage,
especially which crops to insure and which level of coverage to obtain,
prior to this date.

     "Last weekend's early season snowstorm in the Midwest is a vivid
reminder of the unpredictable events that farmers must manage every year,"
said Glickman. "Crop insurance can help. Producers should make it a point to
consider all their crop insurance options, while there is still time to
sign-up."

     If producers need assistance in developing their risk management
plans, they should start by consulting a crop insurance agent. A listing of
crop insurance agents is found in all local Farm Service Agency offices. 

     The states and counties with October 31 sales closing dates are:
     
     Arizona        Barley    Cochise, Graham, Maricopa, Pinal, Yuma 

                    Wheat          Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, Maricopa,
                                   Mohave, Navajo, Pima, Pinal, Yavapai,
                                   Yuma

     California          Barley    Alameda, Amador, Butte, Colusa, Contra
                                   Costa, Fresno, Glenn, Kern, Kings,
                                   Lassen, Los Angeles, Madera, Merced,
                                   Monterey, Riverside, Sacramento, San
                                   Benito, San Bernardino, San Diego, San
                                   Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara,
                                   Santa Clara, Solano, Stanislaus, Sutter,
                                   Tehama, Tulare, Ventura, Yolo

                    Oats      Alameda, Fresno, Merced, Riverside,
                              Sacramento, San Benito, San Joaquin, San
                              Luis Obispo, Solano, Sonoma, Sutter,
                              Tehama, Tulare, Yolo

                    Wheat          Alameda, Amador, Butte, Colusa, Contra
                                   Costa, Fresno, Glenn, Imperial, Kern,
                                   Kings, Lassen, Los Angeles, Madera,
                                   Merced, Modoc, Monterey, Placer,
                                   Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San
                                   Diego, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo,
                                   Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Shasta,
                                   Siskiyou, Solano, Stanislaus, Sutter, 
                              Tehama, Tulare, Yolo, Yuba 

     Nevada         Barley    Clark, Esmeralda, Lincoln, Mineral, Nye
                    
                    Wheat          Churchill, Clark, Douglas, Elko,
                                   Esmeralda, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln,
                                   Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey,
                              Washoe, White Pine, Carson City

     Utah           Wheat          Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Davis,
                                   Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Iron, Juab,
                                   Millard, Morgan, Rich, Salt Lake, San
                                   Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Todele,
                                   Uintah, Utah, Washington, Weber
     

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