U.S. representatives have joined the Illinois Farm Bureau in urging the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) to delay the crop insurance premium due date to help farmers manage financials this fall. A formal letter signed by 14 of 18 Illinois congressional representatives asks RMA Administrator Martin Barbre to delay the deadline for paying crop insurance premiums for spring-planted crops from Oct. 1 to at least Dec. 1. The letter cites this year’s significant planting delays, expected production losses and the anticipated late harvest that will strain cash flow for Illinois farmers. (FarmWeekNow)