All Risk Management Agency Field Offices
All Other Interested Parties
BACKGROUND:
The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) Board of Directors approved changes to the Hemp crop insurance program, under section 508(h) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act, on August 22, 2024.
The following changes are applicable for the 2025 and succeeding crop years:
- Clarify that smoke damage is not a covered cause of loss; and
- Remove soybeans from the rotation requirement statement(s) for Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. This will allow hemp to be insurable if planted following soybeans in these states.
ACTION:
The following documents will be available by close of business today on the Risk Management Agency (RMA) website at www.rma.usda.gov:
- Hemp Crop Provisions (25-1218)
- Hemp Crop Insurance Standards Handbook (FCIC-20600U)
- Hemp Loss Adjustment Standards Handbook (FCIC-20600L)
Approved insurance providers must notify policyholders of these changes at least 30 days prior to the cancellation date, as required by the policy.
Interested producers should contact a crop insurance agent for further information. A list of agents can be found on the RMA website at www.rma.usda.gov/tools-reports/agent-locator.
DISPOSAL DATE:
December 31, 2024