News
WASHINGTON, Dec. 30, 2020 – USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is extending crop insurance flexibilities for producers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, relief provided for electronic notifications and signatures is extended through July 15, 2021; organic certification, replant self-certification and assignment of indemnity are extended through June 30, 2021.
“We recognize that American agriculture continues to face challenges due to the pandemic,” RMA Administrator Martin Barbre said. “RMA remains committed to providing flexibility that supports the health and safety of all parties while also ensuring that the federal crop insurance program continues to serve as a vital risk management tool.”
…WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2020 – USDA farm programs helped farmers and ranchers weather a tough 2020, one marked with a pandemic and multiple natural disasters. USDA’s farm program agencies – the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Risk Management Agency (RMA), and Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Business Center – worked to deliver programs to assist agricultural producers while also making strides to enhance efficiency and effectiveness to improve service to customers.
“We continue to admire and support the resiliency of farmers and ranchers during challenging times,” said Bill Northey, USDA’s Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation. “Amid the pandemic, our team has continued to work closely with producers to…
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2020 – Crop insurance administered by USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) enabled producers to better weather this year’s many natural disasters. Federal crop insurance provided more than $113 billion in total coverage and to date has paid out over $5.8 billion indemnities. Additionally, RMA worked diligently to maximize flexibilities to help producers better cope with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We tell farmers all the time, ‘We listen to you.’ We have made it our mission to make federal crop insurance work for our nation’s producers, whether it’s helping incubate new policies or leveraging additional flexibilities in times of the pandemic,” said RMA Administrator Martin Barbre. “In an unpredictable year like this one, we are…
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) today announced that improvements to prevented planting coverage and to the beginning and veteran farmer and rancher program took effect on November 30 for crop year 2021. These improvements, among others, were made to the Common Crop Insurance Policy Basic Provisions.
“These improvements are the result of feedback from producer groups and other stakeholders,” said RMA Administrator Martin Barbre. “These changes will improve prevented planting coverage and the beginning and veteran farmer and rancher program for years to come.”
Improvements to prevented planting coverage include:
- Expanding the “1 in 4” requirement nationwide, requiring…
WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced it is expanding the pilot Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) plan for hemp. The expansion, as well as other improvements to the plan, will begin in the 2021 crop year.
“We are pleased to expand the hemp program and make other improvements for hemp producers,” said USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) Administrator Martin Barbre. “Hemp offers exciting economic opportunities for our nation’s farmers, and we are listening and responding to their risk management needs.”
The changes announced today include:
- Expanding the program:
- New states included: select counties in Arizona, Arkansas, Nevada and Texas
- New counties (13) in…
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) today announced that a new Federal Crop Insurance product, the Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO), will be available for 31 spring-planted crops for the 2021 crop year and is expected to be available for additional crops starting in the 2022 crop year.
“We’re happy to introduce the Enhanced Coverage Option starting in crop year 2021,” said RMA Administrator Martin Barbre. “ECO provides additional coverage and more flexibility in making risk management decisions.”
ECO allows policyholders to purchase additional area-based coverage for a portion of the deductible for their underlying yield- or revenue-based crop insurance policy. ECO must be purchased as an endorsement to the…
WASHINGTON, Oct. 29, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) today announced it is extending the deadline for public comments on recommended improvements to the Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF) Rainfall Index Crop Insurance Program to December 21, 2020. RMA will review all comments and determine what recommendations should be implemented for the 2022 crop year.
“We want to be sure we get enough feedback from producers and other stakeholders on these proposed improvements, so we’re extending the comment deadline,” said RMA Administrator Martin Barbre. “These comments will help us fine tune the PRF program to ensure its integrity and protect producers and help them manage their risk.”…
WASHINGTON, September 28, 2020 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced that four new members were selected for the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) Board of Directors. Nicole Berg, Kenneth Selzer, Scott Silveus and Pat Swanson will serve four-year terms starting in November 2020.
“We appreciate the willingness of these four new board members to serve on behalf of American farmers and ranchers,” RMA Administrator Martin Barbre said. “We look forward to working with them in managing the Federal crop insurance program.”
The FCIC board oversees the Federal crop insurance program, managed by RMA. The Federal Crop Insurance Act requires that non-USDA FCIC board members represent…
WASHINGTON, Sep. 21, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) today announced it is seeking public comments on recommended improvements to the Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF) Rainfall Index Crop Insurance Program by November 5, 2020. RMA contracted for an independent evaluation of the PRF program to determine its effectiveness as a risk management tool for livestock producers.
“We want to be sure that the recommendations RMA implements are good for the industry and good for livestock producers,” said RMA Administrator Martin Barbre. “We are always looking for feedback and making adjustments to ensure that our insurance products protect producers and help them manage their risk, including lack of rainfall…
WASHINGTON, September 16, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced modifications to the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) program to decrease paperwork and recordkeeping burdens for direct marketers beginning with the 2021 crop year.
“These changes will allow more direct marketers who previously could not meet reporting requirements a way to participate in the Whole-Farm program and provide better and more affordable coverage to these diversified growers,” RMA Administrator Martin Barbre said.
RMA held several stakeholder meetings with agents, growers and grower groups to solicit feedback on ways to increase the effectiveness of the WFRP program, as required by the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (…