Crop Insurance Today February 2018 - 31

grandfather, and father were all farmers before him.
"I wanted to farm after high school but couldn't,
so I went to college and learned how to be a diesel
mechanic."
A few years later, Vern would finally get his
chance to farm. A local farmer told him if he worked
hard, he would some day lease him the land.
"I did it. I stuck with him through thick and
thin," Vern said with just a little pride in his voice.
Vern raises wheat, hay, and sometimes barley.
He also has a few cattle.
Vern's wife, Shelley, works off the farm in Spokane, but there is no doubt she is an important
partner in the Williams farm. Both are soft-spoken,
but were adamant about the need to protect their
crops from a bad storm or low prices.
"The fact that if we have a loss, that we wouldn't
lose our livelihood; that's why we have it. So we can
sleep at night," Shelley said.
The Williams' talked about the year a bad storm
came through their farm and hail wiped out their
entire crop.
"I remember my first reaction when looking
at the acres and there was nothing left was 'oh my
god'," said Shelley. "But then you remember you've
got insurance and the devastation is not nearly
what it could be."
Vern and Shelley are grateful the government
provides crop insurance premium discounts.
"Twenty years ago, we didn't have crop insurance. And I don't know why," Shelley said looking
at Vern for the answer.
"I do. It was too expensive," Vern replied.

Washington Agriculture
	*	The food and agriculture industry makes up 13 percent of the state's economy.
	*	Whitman County, just south of Spokane, is the number one wheat producing county in
the U.S., and ranks number two in the country for barley production.
	*	More than $15 billion in food and agricultural products were exported through
Washington ports in 2013, the third largest total in the U.S.
	*	Washington is the leading U.S. producer of apple juice, and a leader in berry and grape juices.
	*	Washington is the second-largest wine producer in the U.S. with more than 800
licensed wineries.
	*	Food processing is a $15 billion industry in Washington and employs 39,000 people.
	*	Major commodities processed in Washington include vegetables and fruits, dairy foods,
beef, and seafood products.

Both agreed they wouldn't still be farming without the premium support.
It isn't hard to see Vern's commitment to his
profession when you visit the farm. He isn't farming thousands of acres and doesn't have brand new
equipment. But he is doing what he loves. And his
wheat crop that summer reflected his determination to be the best farmer he can be.
"We farm for broke every year," Vern said. "We
want to get the best crop we can every year. If some-

thing comes up and crop insurance has to help you,
that's fine. But that isn't why I farm."
Shelley agreed. "If we need to use crop insurance it's because something happened that's
completely out of our control. You can do everything you are supposed to do as a farmer and
still have a disaster through absolutely no fault
of your own."

CROPINSURANCE TODAY®

31



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Crop Insurance Today February 2018

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Crop Insurance Today February 2018 - Cover2
Crop Insurance Today February 2018 - 1
Crop Insurance Today February 2018 - 2
Crop Insurance Today February 2018 - 3
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Crop Insurance Today February 2018 - Cover3
Crop Insurance Today February 2018 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/cint/56-2
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https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/cint/55-4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/cint/55-3
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/cint/55-2
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/cint/55-1
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/cint/54-4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/cint/54-3
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/cint/54-2
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/cint/54-1
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/cint/53-4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/cint/53-03
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https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/cint/52-04
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/cint/52-03
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/cint/52-02
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http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/cint/51-04
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/cint/51-03
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/cint/51-02
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/cint/51-01
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/cint/50-04
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/cint/50-3
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/cint/50-2
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/cint/50-1
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/cint/49-4
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/cint/49-3
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/cint/may2016
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/cint/february2016
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/cint/november2015
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