| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Lee Boyer |
| December 7, 2007 | (406) 444-3144 |
Montana Hail Board Approves Refunds
HELENA, Mont. — Montana farmers who bought state hail insurance this year
will receive a refund of 10 percent of the premiums they paid. The state
Board of Hail Insurance approved the refunds after reviewing an actuarial
report at its annual meeting.
The Montana Department of Agriculture issued 2,556 hail insurance policies
covering 2,058,886 acres during 2007, a record amount resulting from increased
coverage limits and the outlook for crops based on promising spring moisture,
said Director Ron de Yong. The previous record was 1.9 million insured acres
in 2005.
At its Dec. 5 meeting, the board decided premiums for the 2008 crop year
will remain the same as those charged this year, said board Chairman Gary
Gollehon of Brady.
Serving with de Yong and Gollehon on the board are State Auditor John Morrison
and producers Trudy Laas Skari of Chester and Jim Schillinger of Baker.
For more information about state hail insurance, contact the Montana Department
of Agriculture's hail specialist at (406) 444-2402 or by email at
agr@mt.gov.
