Subpart
1.
Whether damaged by elk.
The federal crop adjuster or the county extension agent shall
investigate the loss in a timely manner and shall make a finding in writing on
the appropriate part of the claim form regarding whether the crop was destroyed
or damaged by elk. The finding must be based on physical and circumstantial
evidence including:
A. the condition
of the crop;
B. elk
tracks;
C. the area of the state
where the loss occurred;
D.
sightings of elk in the area; and
E. any other circumstances considered
pertinent by the federal crop adjuster or the county extension agent.
The absence of affirmative evidence may be grounds for denial
of a claim.
Subp.
2.
Extent of damage.
The federal crop adjuster or the county extension agent shall
make a written finding on the claim form of the extent of damage or the amount
of crop destroyed. The crop owner may choose to have the federal crop adjuster
or county extension agent use the method in item A or B to complete the claim
form and determine the amount of crop loss.
A. To submit the claim form at the time the
suspected elk damage is discovered, the federal crop adjuster or county
extension agent must determine the potential yield, per acre, for the field and
record this information on the form in the column labeled "normal yield" and
the average yield, per acre, expected from the damaged acres and record this
information on the form in the column labeled "average yield expected from
damaged acres."
B. To submit the
claim form at the time the crop is harvested:
(1) the crop owner shall report the loss to
the federal crop adjuster or county extension agent within 24 hours of
discovery, and the loss must be investigated by the federal crop adjuster or
county extension agent in a timely manner;
(2) the crop owner and federal crop adjuster
or county extension agent shall complete the claim form at the time of the
investigation, entering the percent of crop loss from damage in the column
labeled "normal yield" and leaving the column labeled "average yield expected
from damaged acres" blank; and
(3)
when the crop is harvested the federal crop adjuster or county extension agent
shall enter the actual yield of the damaged field in the column labeled
"average yield expected from damaged acres," enter the date in the same column,
and submit the form to the commissioner.
