Actuarial Publications
The following reports are organized by date. For those reports not available electronically below, single copies are available to domestic addresses on a limited basis. To obtain a copy, please email Actuarial@usda.gov. Include your name, address, and title of the study in your email.
Actuarial Methodology
- A Comprehensive Review of the RMA APH and COMBO Rating Methodology: Final Report, Apr 2010
Response to comments, Apr 2010 - RMA Revenue Rating: An Analysis of the Combo Rating Method, Jul 2009
- Rate Methodology Handbook Actual Production History, Oct 2008
- Review of County Yield Trending Procedures and Related Topics, Feb 2008
- Hail and Fire Exclusion Analysis Final Research Report, 2006 National Crop Insurance Services, Nov 2006
- Implied Rate Relativities for Smaller Crops, Oct 2006
- Reference Yield Update Methodology Study, ©2006 Signal Solutions, Sep 2006
- Implied Rate Relativities for Barley, Canola, Cotton, Grain Sorghum, Rice and Sunflowers, Nov 2004
- Variable Unit Discount Study, May 2004
- Implied Rate Relativities for Corn, Soybeans, and Wheat, Dec 2002
- An Independent Actuarial Review of Quality Adjustment - Full Report | Presentation Review, Jun 2002
- An Independent Actuarial Review of Credibility Theory in Rate Determination. Milliman & Robertson, Inc./Distributed with permission, Apr 2002
- Actuarial Documentation of Multiple Peril Crop Insurance Ratemaking Procedures, Milliman & Robertson, Inc./Distributed with permission, Aug 2000
Pricing Methodologies
- Barley Pricing Methodology, Jun 2022
- Confectionery Sunflower Pricing Methodology, Jun 2022
- Durum Wheat Pricing Methodology, Jun 2022
- Flax Pricing Methodology, Nov 2024
- Grain Sorghum Pricing Methodology, Jun 2022
- Medium and Short Grain Rice Pricing Methodology, Jun 2022
- Oat Pricing Methodology, Nov 2022
- Organic Pricing Methodologies, Nov 2024
- Peanut Price Methodology, Nov 2014
- Peanut Revenue Crop Insurance, Mar 2015
- Rapeseed Pricing Methodology, Jun 2022
- Rye Pricing Methodology, Jun 2023
- Weaned Calf Risk Protection Regional Factors and Price Adjustment Factors Methodologies, Sep 2023
Price Volatility Methodology
- Volatility Factor Calculation Methodology, Nov 2015
- Actuarial Review for Price Volatility Factor Methodology - Response to Review, Mar 2015
- Munich - MR Comments, Oct 2014
- NCIS Comments, Oct 2014
- Rain and Hail Comments, Oct 2014
- Actuarial Review for Price Volatility Factor Methodology, Sep 2014
Trend-Adjusted Actual Production History
- Participation in Trend-Adjusted APH, Dec 2012
Yield Exclusion
- Summary of Yield Exclusion Rating Methodology, Contracted Review, External Reviews, Response to External Reviews, and Changes for 2016, Jun 2015
- Review of Adjustment in Actual Production History to Establish Insurable Yields: Determination of Actuarially Sound Premium Rates, Mar 2015
- External Review - AgRisk Management, Feb 2015
- External Review - Bickerstaff, Whatley, Ryan & Burkhalter, Inc., Feb 2015
- External Review - Department Agricultural and Resource Economics, Feb 2015
- External Review - National Crop Insurance Services, Inc., Feb 2015
- External Review – Vedenov Consulting
- External Review – Wyman, Feb 2015
- Response to Reviewer Comments on “Review of Adjustment in Actual Production History to Establish Insurable Yields: Determination of Actuarially Sound Premium Rates”
Weighting of Historical Experience
- Methodology Analysis for Weighting of Historical Experience Responses to Reviewer Comments, Nov 2011
- integrated Financial Analytics and Research (iFAR), Oct 2011
- AgRisk Management LLC, Oct 2011
- Alan Ker, Oct 2011
- National Crop Insurance Services, Oct 2011
- John Pierce, Oct 2011
- Oliver Wyman, Oct 2011
- Methodology Analysis for Weighting of Historical Experience Implementation Report, Sep 2011
- Methodology Analysis for Weighting of Historical Experience Revised Technical Report, Jul 2011
2011 Standard Reinsurance Agreement
- Historical Rate of Return Analysis. Milliman, Inc. Aug 2009. Table 8, Updated Oct 2009, posted Dec 2009
- Rate of Return Update - 2008: Reasonable Rate of Return, Milliman, Inc. Jun 2009
Grain Sorghum
Lower Mississippi River Batture Land
- Research and Development of Potential Policy Changes to Batture Land in the Lower Mississippi River, Feb 2021
Risk Management Publications
For those reports not available electronically below, single copies are available to domestic addresses on a limited basis. To obtain a copy, please email Zachary White. Include your name, address, and title of the study in your email. See also Other USDA Risk Reports.
Climate Change
- Climate Change Impacts on Crop Insurance, May 2010
Declining Yields
Farm Bill Livestock Reports
- Final Study on Poultry Catastrophic Disease, Dec 2015. Study to determine the feasibility of insuring poultry producers for a catastrophic disease event.
- Insurance Program Development for Poultry Business Interruption, Dec 2015. Research and development regarding a policy to insure the commercial production of poultry against business interruptions caused by integrator bankruptcy.
- Study on Swine Catastrophic Disease, Dec 2015. Study to determine the feasibility of insuring swine producers for a catastrophic disease event.
- Insurance Program Development for Catfish Margin Protection Data Gathering Report, Aug 2016. Research and development regarding a gross margin insurance program for catfish producers. Anyone wishing to provide comments to this study may do so by submitting them to rma.apdd@rma.usda.gov by Oct 14, 2016.
Limited and Subsurface Irrigation
- Analysis of Current and Potential Limited Irrigation Methods, Jul 2020
- Research of Current and Potential Subsurface Irrigation Methods Jul 2020
- Reduced Irrigation Data Gathering Analysis and Outline of Proposed Policy and Procedures Modifications Report, May 2014
- Feasibility Report for Insuring Irrigation, May 2013
North Dakota Personal Transitional Yield
- Evaluation of the North Dakota Personal Transitional Yield Insurance Program: Deliverable 2, Oct 2010
- Evaluation of the North Dakota Personal Transitional Yield Insurance Program: Deliverable 1, Jul 2010
Organic Crops
- Report to Congress on Progress of Organic Price Elections, Apr 2024
- Report to Congress on Progress of Organic Price Elections, Apr 2023
- Report to Congress on Progress of Organic Price Elections, May 2022
- Report to Congress on Progress of Organic Price Elections, Jul 2021
- Report to Congress on Progress of Organic Price Elections, Jun 2020
- Report to Congress on Progress of Organic Price Elections, May 2019
- Report to Congress on Progress of Organic Price Elections, Apr 2018
- Report to Congress on Progress of Organic Price Elections, Mar 2017
- Report to Congress on Progress of Organic Price Elections, Mar 2016
- Report to Congress on Progress of Organic Price Elections, Mar 2015
- Report to Congress on Progress of Organic Price Elections, Mar 2014
- Organic Crops: Final Development of Additional Price Elections, Mar 2010
- Organic Crops: Revised Written Rating Report, Feb 2010 Supplemental Data
- Organic Crops and the Federal Crop Insurance Program, Jan 2010 Tables
- Organic Crops: Report on Research of Additional Price Elections, Sep 2009 Supplemental Data
Outreach
- Get Started! A Guide to USDA Resources for Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers, Jul 2022
- 2021 Adequate Coverage for States and Underserved Producers
- 2009 Outreach Projects: Community Outreach and Assistance Partnership Program, Apr 2011
Perennial Crops
Prevented Planting
- Evaluation of Prevented Planting Program, Jan 2015
- Evaluation of Prevented Planting Program Methodology, Jan 2015
Program Integrity-Compliance
- Risk Management Agency Program Compliance and Integrity Annual Report to Congress: January-December 2006, Jul 2011
- Risk Management Agency Program Compliance and Integrity Annual Report to Congress: January-December 2005, Dec 2010
- 4-RM FSA RMA Handbook: FCIC Program Integrity, Aug 2010
- Risk Management Agency Program Compliance and Integrity Annual Report to Congress: January-December 2004, Dec 2007
- Risk Management Agency Program Compliance and Integrity Annual Report to Congress: January-December 2003, Jan 2006
- Risk Management Agency: Preventing Fraud, Protecting Farms, Program Compliance and Integrity Annual Report to Congress: January-December 2002, Nov 2004
- Risk Management Agency Program Compliance and Integrity Annual Report to Congress: June 2000-December 2001, Sep 2002
Recommendations from Pasture Rangeland Forage Evaluations
- Pasture, Rangeland, Forage Contractors Report, Sep 2020
- Pasture, Rangeland, Forage Alternative Recommendations, Sep 2020
Recommendations from Sugar Beet Program Evaluation
Risk Management
- Lamb Data Gathering Report, Feb 2024
- Research of Nursery Greenhouse Policy, Apr 2021
- Feasibility of Insuring Local Food Production, Jan 2021
- Dollar Insurance Recommended Modifications Report, Dec 2017
- The Risk Management Safety Net: Portfolio Analysis-Market Penetration and Market Potential, Sep 2017
- Biomass Sorghum and Sweet Sorghum Data Gathering Report, Apr 2015
- Study of Food Safety, Jan 2015
- Nursery Evaluation and Recommended Improvement Report | Nursery Recommendations for Alternative Design Report
- Feasibility Research Report for Insuring Aquaculture Bivalve Species, Nov 2011
- Feasibility Research Report for Insuring Corn Stover, Straw and Other Crop Residues, Nov 2011
- Feasibility Research Report for Insuring Fast Growing Trees (such as Poplar & Willow) and other Woody Biomass Products, Nov 2011
- Feasibility of Crop Insurance for Freshwater Aquaculture, Sep 2011
- Feasibility of Crop Insurance for Saltwater Aquaculture, Sep 2011
- Cultivated Clam Pilot Evaluation Final Report, Jun 2011
- Feasibility Study for Insuring Dedicated Energy Crops, May 2011
- Feasibility Research Report for Insuring Commercial Poultry Production, Sep 2010
- Feasibility Research Report for Insuring Honey Bees, Apr 2010
- Development of Additional Crop Programs Under Rainfall or Vegetation Index: Suitability for Coverage for Triticale, Jun 2009
- Development of Additional Crop Programs Under Rainfall or Vegetation Index: Suitability for Coverage for Camelina, Mar 2009
- Development of Additional Crop Programs Under Rainfall or Vegetation Index: Suitability for Coverage for Cellulose Grasses (Switchgrass and Miscanthus), Dec 2008
- Building a Risk Management Plan: Risk Reducing Ideas That Work | PDF version
Aug 1998, MP-36
Tillering Factors for Hybrid Rice Study
Farm Risk Plans Publications Oct 2008
- Crop Insurance Options for Vegetable Growers
- Crop Insurance Works for Organic Producers
- Getting Acreage Reporting Right
- Good Farming Practices Protect Your Investment in Crop Insurance
- How to File a Crop Insurance Claim
- Nursery Commodity Insurance
- Risk Management Checklist | Lista de Comprobación para la Administraciónde Riesgos
- Risk Management Glossary
- Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats Analysis | Ejercicio de Análisis SWOT
- What to Expect from Your Crop Insurance Agent