DAVIS RO - USDA Announces Improvements to Crop Insurance for Cherries

Davis, CA, Aug. 28, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced improvements to the Actual Revenue History (ARH) Sweet Cherry and ARH Tart Cherry for Processing crop insurance programs for the 2025 and succeeding crop years. The Risk Management Agency (RMA) is increasing the base period to meet minimum production amount. For producers in California, it is changing from one in four years to one in five years for sweet cherries and for Utah, it is changing from one in three year to one in five years for sweet cherries. The one in five minimum production requirement is already in effect for tart cherries in Utah. 

“Cherry producers have experienced many unavoidable production setbacks in the last few years that have made meeting the minimum production requirement difficult,” said Jeff Yasui Director of RMA’s Regional Office that covers Utah and California, among other states. “The Risk Management Agency is proud to work with our cherry producers to continue to improve coverage options so producers can continue to effectively manage risk on their operation.”

In addition to giving producers more time to meet minimum production requirements, RMA is also allowing producers to request a Regional Office (RO) Determined Yield (DY) for any acreage that does not meet the minimum production requirement. Producers can contact their crop insurance agent for more information as determined yield requirements vary by region. 

As part of a larger initiative to expand coverage options for perennial and specialty crop producers, RMA will expand Enterprise Units (EU) and EUs by organic farming practice (EO) to Sweet and Tart Cherry producers beginning with the 2025 crop year. 

The ARH Sweet Cherry pilot program was established in 2009 and is now available in California, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. The ARH Tart Cherry for Processing pilot program was established in 2014 and is now available in Michigan, New York, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin.

The sales closing date is November 20, 2024, for the 2025 crop year in all states except California where the sales closing date is January 31, 2025, for the 2025 crop year.

RMA collaborated with stakeholders to improve these programs. In crop year 2024, producers insured $634 million in covered liabilities on 96,000 acres of cherries.

More Information  

Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator. Producers can learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at rma.usda.gov or by contacting their RMA Regional Office.

RMA secures the future of agriculture by providing world class risk management tools to rural America through Federal crop insurance and risk management education programs. RMA provides policies for more than 130 crops and is constantly working to adjust and create new policies based on producer needs and feedback.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.

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