All Risk Management Agency Field Offices
All Other Interested Parties
Background
The Risk Management Agency (RMA) has received several questions about the Wildfire Hurricane Indemnity Program (WHIP) and Wildfire Hurricane Indemnity Program+ (WHIP+) administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). Specifically, RMA has been asked if Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index (HIP-WI), Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO), Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO), Stacked Income Protection Plan (STAX), and Margin Protection Plan (MP) can be used to meet linkage requirements under WHIP and WHIP+.
Action
Crop insurance policies reinsured by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, including Whole-Farm Revenue Protection and written agreements, will meet the linkage requirement if the coverage level is at least 60/100 or equivalent. In addition, if a producer purchases HIP-WI, SCO, ECO, STAX or MP, the coverage will count towards meeting the WHIP and WHIP+ linkage requirement, provided the coverage or combination of coverages purchased meets or exceeds the 60/100 coverage level and they adhere to all other requirements of these programs. This is in addition to the Occurrence Loss Option (OLO) as referenced in OA-20-001.
Producers should contact their local service center (www.farmers.gov) for questions regarding WHIP and WHIP+ and their local crop insurance agent for questions regarding crop insurance coverage options (www.rma.usda.gov/tools-reports/agent-locator).
DISPOSAL DATE:
Until modified or rescinded