The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding crop insurance options for specialty and organic growers beginning with the 2025 crop year. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is expanding coverage options by allowing enterprise units by organic farming practice, adding enterprise unit eligibility for several crops, and making additional policy updates. This is the first of several announcements this summer, which will include the expansion of the shellfish policy in the Northeast and new coverage for grape growers in the West and beyond. These expansions and other improvements build o ..read more

As we near July 15, one of our largest acreage reporting dates, please keep in mind that on or before the applicable final acreage reporting date, an insured may revise his/her acreage report for planted acres without the requirement of a crop inspection or ProAg’s approval. After the applicable final ARD, acreage reports cannot be revised except for the following: As specifically allowed by the policy, including: Short-rated acreage, if requested by the insured, and the requirements in the Crop Provisions are met. The acreage report must be revised to designate short-rated acres separat ..read more

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) Board of Directors approved changes to the Camelina pilot crop insurance program for the 2025 and succeeding crop years. As a result, RMA is expanding coverage allowing camelina producers to better manage their risks. Per Product Management Bulletin: PM-24-037, the following coverage options will take effect starting with the 2025 crop year and are contained in the Camelina actuarial documents: Enterprise units are allowed The maximum allowable coverage level increased from 65% to 85% and can be selected in 5% increments Planting dates in the Sout ..read more

ProAg’s Grant Adams with AACI President Scott Graves There’s an old saying: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” The American Association of Crop Insurers (AACI) was founded in 1983 on the latter principle. AACI’s mission is “to advocate on behalf of all segments of the private sector crop insurance industry with a unified voice in an effort to promote and protect a viable, affordable and diverse crop insurance program.” The board of directors reflects this mission with representatives from every level of industry involvement, including insurance companies ..read more

Acreage reporting for some of our largest dates is quickly approaching, and several planting seasons are underway. Here are a few items to review as the acreage report verification process is completed: Verify the acreage report is completed on a ProAg form. Verify all applicable information has been included for each unit, including, but not limited to, state, county, crop(s), plan, coverage level, CLU, unit number, acreage type, number of acres, date planting was completed, insured’s share, name of others sharing in the crop, etc. Confirm any changes in unit numbering/unit structure, legal ..read more

The House and Senate Farm Bills reflect differing priorities. The House Bill leans toward production ag while the Senate Bill prioritizes food stamp/TFP, conservation and CCC program changes. How will these differing priorities impact crop insurance? The House Farm Bill and the Senate Farm Bill increase premium support for producers for 10 years. From there, the similarities begin to diverge. These are the key differences in the current House and Senate Farm Bills: House Farm Bill Encourages research and development on improved risk management tools for specialty crops. Increases SCO and WFR ..read more

There is finally movement on the farm bill as the House and Senate Agriculture Committees leaders unveiled competing farm bill proposals. Both plans could allow changes to reference prices, possibly permit farmers to add new base acres and expand crop insurance coverage. Divisions over nutrition and conservation remain the main sticking points. House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson, R-Pa., plans to fund program changes across the USDA with an estimated $28 billion over ten years that would come from limiting projected spending increases in nutrition programs. Many Democrats oppose ..read more

As outlined in Product Management Bulletin PM-24-025, the HIP-WI Endorsement was amended by Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) for the 2025 and succeeding crop years in all counties with an April 30, 2024, contract change date, or later, with the following changes: Updated the definition of “Adjacent County” to indicate that counties identified as adjacent to an insured’s county will be published in the actuarial documents. Clarified in the definition of “Weather Event” that the criteria necessary to meet the County Loss Trigger for a tropical storm must occur within the bounds of a co ..read more

As important production reporting deadlines approach, we would like to take this opportunity to provide you with some helpful information regarding production reports. As stated in the Crop Insurance Handbook (CIH), an annual production report is required for all crops with a yield-based plan of insurance that are required to establish the approved APH yield. Additionally, an annual production report is required for all area risk protection insurance (ARPI) policies, unless specified in the special provisions (SPs). Common crop insurance policies (CCIPs), the insured’s production report is use ..read more

On March 11, President Joe Biden released a proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget that fully funds the Federal crop insurance program in recognition of the indispensable role that crop insurance plays in the farm safety net. The budget states that the “administration supports improvements to crop insurance, proactively managing risk from natural hazards, including the permanent authorization of the cover crop incentive program.” The release of the FY 2025 Budget follows a January letter from more than 60 farming, banking, and conservation organizations asking the Secretary of Agriculture and ..read more