GLICKMAN REMINDS PRODUCERS ABOUT CROP INSURANCE SALES CLOSING DATES                                 
                                            	 Release No.0069.98
                                   	    Tom Amontree (202) 720-4623
                                 	 	       tamontree@usda.gov
                                      Eric Edgington (202) 690-2539
                                        eedgington@wdc.fsa.usda.gov
SECRETARY GLICKMAN REMINDS PRODUCERS ABOUT CROP INSURANCE SALES CLOSING 
  DATES
     WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 1998--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today
reminded producers of spring-planted crops that the deadline to buy federal
crop insurance is fast approaching.  Producers must decide which crops to
insure and which level of coverage to obtain, before this date; which is
February 28 in some areas and March 15 in others. 
     "Knee-deep snows in the south and flooding in the west are vivid
reminders of the unpredictable weather risks farmers face each year," said
Glickman.  "USDA's ability to help farmers following a crop loss depends
entirely on the choices they make prior to the sales closing dates.  Most 
need crop insurance.  In fact, I have just written a letter to former 
policyholders asking them to reconsider their choice to not insure."
     Producers interested in buying crop insurance should contact a crop
insurance agent. A listing of crop insurance agents is found in all local 
USDA Farm Service Agency offices. *Sales closing dates vary by crop and 
location (see attached).  
                                #
     
       States/crops with a February 28 sales closing date:
     Alabama             Corn                02/28/1998
                         Cotton              02/28/1998
                         Flue Cured Tobacco  02/28/1998
                         Grain Sorghum       02/28/1998
                         Peanuts             02/28/1998
                         Soybeans            02/28/1998
                         Sweet Potatoes      02/28/1998
     Arizona             Corn                02/28/1998
                         Cotton              02/28/1998
     Arkansas            Corn                02/28/1998
                         Cotton              02/28/1998
                         Grain Sorghum       02/28/1998
                         Peanuts             02/28/1998
                         Rice                02/28/1998
                         Soybeans            02/28/1998               
     California          Barley              02/28/1998
                         Corn                02/28/1998
                         Cotton              02/28/1998     
                         Dry Beans           02/28/1998     
                         Figs                02/28/1998
                         Grain Sorghum       02/28/1998
                         Rice                02/28/1998
                         Sweet Potatoes      02/28/1998
                         Wheat               02/28/1998
     Delaware            Green Peas          02/15/1998*
     Florida           Corn                  02/28/1998
                       Cotton                02/28/1998
                       Flue Cured Tobacco    02/28/1998     
                       Fresh Market Tomatoes 02/28/1998          
                       Rice                  02/15/1998*
     Georgia             Corn                02/28/1998
                         Cotton              02/28/1998
                         Flue Cured Tobacco  02/28/1998
                         Grain Sorghum       02/28/1998
                         Peanuts             02/28/1998
                         Soybeans            02/28/1998
     Louisiana           Corn                02/28/1998
                         Cotton              02/28/1998
                         Grain Sorghum       02/28/1998
                         Peanuts             02/28/1998
                         Rice                02/28/1998
                         Soybeans            02/28/1998
                         Sweet Potatoes      02/28/1998
     Mississippi         Corn                02/28/1998
                         Cotton              02/28/1998
                         Grain Sorghum       02/28/1998
                         Peanuts             02/28/1998
                         Rice                02/28/1998
                         Soybeans            02/28/1998
     North Carolina      Burley Tobacco      02/28/1998
                         Corn                02/28/1998
                         Cotton              02/28/1998
                         Flue Cured Tobacco  02/28/1998
                         Grain Sorghum       02/28/1998
                         Peanuts             02/28/1998
                         Soybeans            02/28/1998
                         Sweet potatoes      02/28/1998
     Oklahoma            Rice                02/28/1998
     South Carolina      Corn                02/28/1998
                         Cotton              02/28/1998
                         Flue Cured Tobacco  02/28/1998
                         Grain Sorghum       02/28/1998
                         Peanuts             02/28/1998
                         Soybeans            02/28/1998
                         Sweet Potatoes      02/28/1998
     Tennessee           Rice                02/28/1998
     Texas               Corn                02/15/1998*
                         Cotton              02/28/1998
                         Grain Sorghum       02/15/1998*                             
                         Grain Sorghum       02/28/1998
                         Peanuts             02/28/1998
                         Potatoes            02/28/1998
                         Rice                02/28/1998
                         Soybeans            02/28/1998
               
         States/crops with a March 15 sales closing date:
     Alaska              Barley              03/15/1998
                         Oats                03/15/1998
                         Potatoes            03/15/1998
                         Wheat               03/15/1998
     Arizona             Cotton Ex Long Staple    03/15/1998
     Arkansas            Fresh Market Tomatoes    03/15/1998
     California          Cotton Ex Long Staple    03/15/1998
                         Oats                     03/15/1998
                         Potatoes                 03/15/1998
                         Sugar Beets              03/15/1998
     Colorado            Barley                   03/15/1998
                         Corn                     03/15/1998
                         Dry Beans                03/15/1998
                         Forage Production        03/15/1998
                         Fresh Market Sweet Corn  03/15/1998
                         Grain Sorghum            03/15/1998
                         Millet                   03/15/1998
                         Oats                     03/15/1998
                         Popcorn                  03/15/1998
                         Potatoes                 03/15/1998
                         Sugar Beets              03/15/1998
                         Sunflowers               03/15/1998
                         Wheat                    03/15/1998
     Connecticut        Cigar Binder Tobacco      03/15/1998
                         Cigar Wrapper Tobacco    03/15/1998
                         Corn                     03/15/1998
                         Potatoes                 03/15/1998
     
     Delaware            Corn                     03/15/1998
                         Grain Sorghum            03/15/1998
                         Processing Beans         03/15/1998
                         Soybeans                 03/15/1998
                         Sweet Corn               03/15/1998
                         Tomatoes                 03/15/1998     
                         
     Idaho               Barley              03/15/1998
                         Canola              03/15/1998
                         Corn                03/15/1998
                         Dry Beans           03/15/1998
                         Dry Peas            03/15/1998
                         Green Peas          03/15/1998
                         Oats                03/15/1998
                         Potatoes            03/15/1998
                         Processing Beans    03/15/1998
                         Safflower           03/15/1998
                         Sugar Beets         03/15/1998
                         Sweet Corn          03/15/1998
     Illinois            Corn                03/15/1998
                         Grain Sorghum       03/15/1998
                         Green Peas          03/15/1998
                         Hybrid Corn Seed    03/15/1998
                         Oats                03/15/1998
                         Popcorn             03/15/1998
                         Processing Beans    03/15/1998
                         Soybeans            03/15/1998
                         Sweet Corn          03/15/1998
                         Tomatoes            03/15/1998
     Iowa                Barley              03/15/1998
                         Corn                03/15/1998
                         Dry Beans           03/15/1998
                         Forage Production   03/15/1998
                         Forage Seeding      03/15/1998
                         Grain Sorghum       03/15/1998
                         Green Peas          03/15/1998
                         Hybrid Corn Seed    03/15/1998
                         Oats                03/15/1998
                         Popcorn             03/15/1998
                         Potatoes            03/15/1998
                         Processing Beans    03/15/1998
                         Soybeans            03/15/1998
                         Sweet Corn          03/15/1998
                         Wheat               03/15/1998
     Kansas              Barley              03/15/1998
                         Corn                03/15/1998
                         Cotton              03/15/1998
                         Dry Beans           03/15/1998
                         Grain Sorghum       03/15/1998
                         Oats                03/15/1998
                         Popcorn             03/15/1998
                         Soybeans            03/15/1998
                         Sunflowers          03/15/1998
     Kentucky            Burley Tobacco      03/15/1998
                         Corn                03/15/1998
                         Dark Air Tobacco    03/15/1998
                         Fire Cured Tobacco  03/15/1998
                         Grain Sorghum       03/15/1998
                         Hybrid Corn Seed    03/15/1998
                         Popcorn             03/15/1998
                         Soybeans            03/15/1998
     Maine               Barley              03/15/1998
                         Corn                03/15/1998
                         Green Peas          03/15/1998
                         Oats                03/15/1998
                         Potatoes            03/15/1998
                         Wheat               03/15/1998
     Maryland            Corn                     03/15/1998
                         Fresh Market Tomatoes    03/15/1998
                         Grain Sorghum            03/15/1998
                         Green Peas               03/15/1998
                         Maryland Tobacco         03/15/1998
                         Oats                     03/15/1998
                         Processing Beans         03/15/1998
                         Soybeans                 03/15/1998
                         Sweet Corn               03/15/1998
                         Tomatoes                 03/15/1998
     Massachusetts       Cigar Binder Tobacco     03/15/1998
                         Cigar Wrapper Tobacco    03/15/1998
                         Corn                     03/15/1998
                         Potatoes                 03/15/1998
     Michigan            Barley                   03/15/1998
                         Corn                     03/15/1998
                         Dry Beans                03/15/1998
                         Grain Sorghum            03/15/1998
                         Green Peas               03/15/1998
                         Hybrid Corn Seed         03/15/1998
                         Oats                     03/15/1998
                         Popcorn                  03/15/1998
                         Potatoes                 03/15/1998
                         Processing Beans         03/15/1998
                         Soybeans                 03/15/1998
                         Sugar Beets              03/15/1998
                         Tomatoes                 03/15/1998
     Minnesota           Barley                   03/15/1998
                         Canola                   03/15/1998
                         Corn                     03/15/1998
                         Dry Beans                03/15/1998
                         Flax                     03/15/1998
                         Forage Production        03/15/1998
                         Forage Seeding           03/15/1998
                         Grain Sorghum            03/15/1998
                         Green Peas               03/15/1998
                         Hybrid Corn Seed         03/15/1998
                         Oats                     03/15/1998
                         Popcorn                  03/15/1998
                         Potatoes                 03/15/1998
                         Processing Beans         03/15/1998
                         Soybeans                 03/15/1998
                         Sugar Beets              03/15/1998
                         Sunflowers               03/15/1998
                         Sweet Corn               03/15/1998
                         Wheat                    03/15/1998
     Missouri            Burley Tobacco           03/15/1998
                         Corn                     03/15/1998
                         Cotton                   03/15/1998
                         Grain Sorghum            03/15/1998
                         Hybrid Corn Seed         03/15/1998
                         Oats                     03/15/1998
                         Popcorn                  03/15/1998
                         Rice                     03/15/1998
                         Soybeans                 03/15/1998
     Montana             Barley                  03/15/1998
                         Canola                  03/15/1998
                         Corn                    03/15/1998
                         Dry Beans               03/15/1998
                         Forage Production       03/15/1998
                         Forage Seeding          03/15/1998
                         Oats                    03/15/1998
                         Potatoes                03/15/1998
                         Safflower               03/15/1998
                         Sugar Beets             03/15/1998
                         Wheat                   03/15/1998
     Nebraska            Barley              03/15/1998
                         Corn                03/15/1998
                         Dry Beans           03/15/1998
                         Grain Sorghum       03/15/1998
                         Hybrid Corn Seed    03/15/1998     
                         Millet              03/15/1998
                         Oats                03/15/1998
                         Popcorn             03/15/1998
                         Potatoes            03/15/1998
                         Soybeans            03/15/1998
                         Sugar Beets         03/15/1998
                         Sunflowers          03/15/1998
     Nevada              Barley              03/15/1998
                         Forage Production   03/15/1998
                         Oats                03/15/1998
                         Potatoes            03/15/1998
     New Hampshire       Corn                03/15/1998
                         Forage Production   03/15/1998
                         Forage Seeding      03/15/1998
     New Jersey               Corn           03/15/1998
                         Oats                03/15/1998
                         Processing Beans    03/15/1998
                         Soybeans            03/15/1998
                         Tomatoes            03/15/1998
     New Mexico          Corn                     03/15/1998
                         Cotton                   03/15/1998
                         Cotton Ex Long Staple    03/15/1998
                         Dry Beans                03/15/1998
                         Grain Sorghum            03/15/1998
                         Hybrid Sorghum Seed      03/15/1998
                         Peanuts                  03/15/1998
                         Potatoes                 03/15/1998
                         Sugar Beets              03/15/1998
     New York            Barley                   03/15/1998
                         Corn                     03/15/1998
                         Dry Beans                03/15/1998
                         Forage Production        03/15/1998
                         Forage Seeding           03/15/1998
                         Grain Sorghum            03/15/1998
                         Green Peas               03/15/1998
                         Hybrid Corn Seed         03/15/1998
                         Oats                     03/15/1998
                         Potatoes                 03/15/1998
                         Processing Beans         03/15/1998
                         Soybeans                 03/15/1998
                         Sweet Corn               03/15/1998
                         Tomatoes                 03/15/1998
     North Carolina      Burley Tobacco           03/15/1998
     North Dakota        Barley                   03/15/1998
                         Canola                   03/15/1998
                         Corn                     03/15/1998
                         Dry Beans                03/15/1998
                         Dry Peas                 03/15/1998
                         Flax                     03/15/1998
                         Forage Production        03/15/1998
                         Forage Seeding           03/15/1998
                         Grain Sorghum            03/15/1998
                         Millet                   03/15/1998
                         Oats                     03/15/1998
                         Potatoes                 03/15/1998
                         Safflower                03/15/1998
                         Soybeans                 03/15/1998
                         Sugar Beets              03/15/1998
                         Sunflowers               03/15/1998
                         Wheat                    03/15/1998
     Ohio                Burley Tobacco           03/15/1998
                         Corn                     03/15/1998
                         Dry Beans                03/15/1998
                         Grain Sorghum            03/15/1998
                         Hybrid Corn Seed         03/15/1998
                         Oats                     03/15/1998
                         Popcorn                  03/15/1998
                         Potatoes                 03/15/1998
                         Soybeans                 03/15/1998
                         Sugar Beets              03/15/1998
                         Tomatoes                 03/15/1998
     Oklahoma            Corn                     03/15/1998
                         Cotton                   03/15/1998
                         Grain Sorghum            03/15/1998
                         Peanuts                  03/15/1998
                         Soybeans                 03/15/1998
     Oregon              Barley                   03/15/1998
                         Corn                     03/15/1998
                         Dry Beans                03/15/1998
                         Dry Peas                 03/15/1998
                         Forage Production        03/15/1998
                         Green Peas               03/15/1998
                         Oats                     03/15/1998
                         Potatoes                 03/15/1998
                         Processing Beans         03/15/1998
                         Sugar Beets              03/15/1998
                         Sweet Corn               03/15/1998
     Pennsylvania        Barley                   03/15/1998
                         Cigar Filler Tobacco     03/15/1998
                         Corn                     03/15/1998
                         Forage Production        03/15/1998
                         Forage Seeding           03/15/1998
                         Fresh Market Tomatoes    03/15/1998
                         Grain Sorghum            03/15/1998
                         Green Peas               03/15/1998
                         Maryland Tobacco         03/15/1998
                         Oats                     03/15/1998
                         Potatoes                 03/15/1998
                         Processing Beans         03/15/1998
                         Soybeans                 03/15/1998
                         Sweet Corn               03/15/1998
                         Tomatoes                 03/15/1998
     Rhode Island        Corn                     03/15/1998
                         Potatoes                 03/15/1998
     South Dakota        Barley                   03/15/1998
                         Corn                     03/15/1998
                         Dry Beans                03/15/1998
                         Flax                     03/15/1998
                         Forage Production        03/15/1998
                         Grain Sorghum            03/15/1998
                         Hybrid Corn Seed         03/15/1998
                         Millet                   03/15/1998
                         Oats                     03/15/1998
                         Popcorn                  03/15/1998
                         Potatoes                 03/15/1998
                         Safflower                03/15/1998
                         Soybeans                 03/15/1998
                         Sunflowers               03/15/1998
                         Wheat                    03/15/1998
     Tennessee           Burley Tobacco           03/15/1998
                         Corn                     03/15/1998
                         Cotton                   03/15/1998
                         Dark Air Tobacco         03/15/1998
                         Fire Cured Tobacco       03/15/1998
                         Grain Sorghum            03/15/1998
                         Processing Beans         03/15/1998
                         Soybeans                 03/15/1998
     Texas                    Corn                03/15/1998
                         Cotton                   03/15/1998
                         Cotton Ex Long Staple    03/15/1998
                         Grain Sorghum            03/15/1998
                         Hybrid Corn Seed         03/15/1998
                         Hybrid Sorghum Seed      03/15/1998
                         Peanuts                  03/15/1998
                         Popcorn                  03/15/1998
                         Potatoes                 03/15/1998
                         Processing Beans         03/15/1998
                         Soybeans                 03/15/1998
                         Sugar Beets              03/15/1998
                         Sunflowers               03/15/1998
     Utah                Barley                   03/15/1998
                         Corn                     03/15/1998
                         Dry Beans                03/15/1998
                         Forage Production        03/15/1998
                         Oats                     03/15/1998
                         Potatoes                 03/15/1998
                         Processing Beans         03/15/1998
                         Safflower                03/15/1998
     Vermont             Barley                   03/15/1998
                         Corn                     03/15/1998
                         Forage Seeding           03/15/1998
                         Wheat                    03/15/1998
     Virginia            Burley Tobacco           03/15/1998
                         Corn                     03/15/1998
                         Cotton                   03/15/1998
                         Dark Air Tobacco         03/15/1998
                         Fire Cured Tobacco       03/15/1998
                         Flue Cured Tobacco       03/15/1998
                         Fresh Market Tomatoes    03/15/1998
                         Grain Sorghum            03/15/1998
                         Oats                     03/15/1998
                         Peanuts                  03/15/1998
                         Processing Beans         03/15/1998
                         Soybeans                 03/15/1998
                         Tomatoes                 03/15/1998
     Washington          Barley                   03/15/1998
                         Corn                     03/15/1998
                         Dry Beans                03/15/1998
                         Dry Peas                 03/15/1998
                         Green Peas               03/15/1998
                         Oats                     03/15/1998
                         Potatoes                 03/15/1998
                         Processing Beans         03/15/1998
                         Sugar Beets              03/15/1998
                         Sweet Corn               03/15/1998
     West Virginia       Burley Tobacco           03/15/1998
                         Corn                     03/15/1998
                         Oats                     03/15/1998
                         Soybeans                 03/15/1998
     Wisconsin           Barley                   03/15/1998
                         Cigar Binder Tobacco     03/15/1998
                         Corn                     03/15/1998
                         Dry Beans                03/15/1998
                         Forage Production        03/15/1998
                         Forage Seeding           03/15/1998
                         Grain Sorghum            03/15/1998
                         Green Peas               03/15/1998
                         Hybrid Corn Seed         03/15/1998
                         Oats                     03/15/1998                              
                         Potatoes                 03/15/1998
                         Processing Beans         03/15/1998
                         Soybeans                 03/15/1998
                         Sweet Corn               03/15/1998
                         Wheat                    03/15/1998
     Wyoming             Barley                   03/15/1998
                         Corn                     03/15/1998
                         Dry Beans                03/15/1998
                         Forage Production        03/15/1998
                         Forage Seeding           03/15/1998
                         Oats                     03/15/1998
                         Potatoes                 03/15/1998
                         Sugar Beets              03/15/1998
                         Wheat                    03/15/1998