Producers pleased with RMA crop insurance changes

Sandra Hansen
Posted 12/15/17

Area farmers are pleased with recent changes to the federal crop insurance program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency has announced major policy changes for 2018, which focus on conservation compliance certification and choice of unit structure based on the risk management needs of producers.

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Producers pleased with RMA crop insurance changes

Posted

TORRINGTON – Area farmers are pleased with recent changes to the federal crop insurance program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency has announced major policy changes for 2018, which focus on conservation compliance certification and choice of unit structure based on the risk management needs of producers.
“We’ve been fighting for these changes for a couple of years,” said Derek Jackson, president of the Wyoming Wheat Growers Association, as well as an agent at Burns Insurance in Torrington. “We’re especially pleased with the changes to the date requirement. It’s huge. We’re very happy with that.”
The previous deadline was June 1, which did not always allow for individual operation circumstances.

According to Jackson, the new deadline, based on the premium date, allows more time to make crop insurance decisions on issues that could range from estate settlements to computer glitches.
Introduction of the “Enterprise unit” is another option for either irrigated or non-irrigated farms. It allows for the same coverage on all fields under an “Enterprise” umbrella. This option is less expensive and provides the same coverage for all fields included. On the plus side, producers could receive additional premium subsidy. The hang up could be that producers face the possibility of receiving a smaller payment, depending on the crops and fields
There are two other coverage options, optional and basic. The optional package covers fields individually. The basic package is based on shares.
“Every producer’s situation is unique,” Jackson explained. “With RMA, we want to ensure the policies we provide are flexible enough so that producers are getting the most effective and efficient coverage.”
In the announcement, RMA Acting Administrator Heather Manzano said that ensuring producers have the right coverage helps to strengthen the farm safety net, and these changes reduce the burden placed on producers, and makes crop insurance more accessible.
The changes were published Nov. 24 in the Federal Register.