In response to Michigan's devastating 2012 cherry crop, Senator Debbie Stabenow recently led the charge to gain Michigan tart cherry growers access to purchase federal crop insurance for the first time ever. Insurance was also made available to sweet cherry growers beginning in August 2012. 

"No farmer should be wiped out because of a few bad days of weather, and this new coverage will help Michigan's growers manage their losses without losing the farm…Michigan cherry growers will now be able to purchase crop insurance to protect themselves from disasters like last year's freezes and frosts. This is another reason why it's critical that Congress finally complete its work on a Farm Bill, which would provide short-term disaster relief for those that were devastated last year and ensure that more Michigan growers can protect themselves from risks like these in the future," Stabenow said, according to her website.

Coverage protection includes losses from low yields, low prices, low quality, or any combination of these events. The coverage is scheduled to be available for the 2014 crop year in the following counties:  Berrien, Van Buren, Allegan, Kent, Newaygo, Muskegon, Oceana, Mason, Manistee, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Antrim, and Charlevoix.