URI gets $206K grant for crop education

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (AP) -- The University of Rhode Island has been awarded a $206,000 federal grant to help educate the state's agricultural producers on crop insurance.

U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin announced the grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Tuesday. It supports risk management and crop insurance education for Rhode Island growers.

The money comes from an initiative started by the Federal Crop Insurance Corp. The congressman's office says the grant is aimed at getting information about crop insurance to growers in states where there is traditionally a low level of federal crop insurance participation.

Langevin says the state should work to expand its agriculture sector as part of its efforts to boost the sagging economy.