Blog

On March 27, 2020, the Risk Management Agency (RMA) issued a number of documents related to the effects COVID-19 is having on crop insurance and its mitigation responses. https://www.rma.usda.gov/en/News-Room/Press/Press-Releases/2020-News/USDA-Adds-Flexibilities-for-Crop-Insurance-to-Support-Americas-Farmers-and-Ranchers; https://www.rma.usda.gov/en/Policy-and-Procedure/Bulletins-and-Memos/2020/MGR-20-007; https://www.rma.usda.gov/en/Policy-and-Procedure/Bulletins-and-Memos/2020/MGR-20-005; https://www.rma.usda.gov/en/Policy-and-Procedure/Bulletins-and-Memos/2020/MGR-20-006. RMA has recognized that many states have issued stay-at-home orders, which impacts the contacts between the agent and producer. In response, RMA states …

Crop Insurance News and Analysis – March 27, 2020 – COVID-19Read More

On March 17, 2020, the Risk Management Agency (RMA) issued two Final Agency Determinations: FAD-293b and FAD-293c, regarding the Hybrid Seed Corn Crop Provisions (Crop Provisions). https://www.rma.usda.gov/en/Policy-and-Procedure/Final-Agency-Determinations/Hybrid-Seed-Corn-Crop-Provisions-12d-FAD-293b; https://www.rma.usda.gov/en/Policy-and-Procedure/Final-Agency-Determinations/Hybrid-Seed-Corn-Crop-Provisions-12e-FAD-293c. Both FAD-293b and FAD-293c involved an interpretation of production to count under section 12(d) and 12(e) of the Crop Provisions. The first requestor stated that production to …

Crop Insurance News and Analysis – March 17, 2020 – FAD-293b and 293c – Hybrid Seed CornRead More

On March 17, 2020, the Risk Management Agency (RMA) published Final Agency Determination: FAD-293a, relating to the Hybrid Seed Corn Crop Provisions. https://www.rma.usda.gov/en/Policy-and-Procedure/Final-Agency-Determinations/Hybrid-Seed-Corn-Crop-Provisions-FAD-293a. The interpretation requested involves the definition of “minimum guaranteed payment.” The first requestor states that the minimum guaranteed payment does not encompass payments to the insured if the payments are: 1) not …

Crop Insurance News and Analysis – March 17, 2020 – Final Agency Determinations: FAD-293a – Hybrid Seed Corn Crop ProvisionsRead More

On March 12, 2020, the Risk Management Agency (RMA) issued a press release entitled “USDA is Working to Reduce Insurance Rates for Farmers Impacted by 2019 Breached Levees.” https://www.rma.usda.gov/en/News-Room/Press/Press-Releases/2020-News/USDA-is-Working-to-Reduce-Insurance-Rates-for-Farmers-Impacted-by-2019-Breached-Levees. RMA is telling farmers to look at the impacts that the 2019 breaches may have had on premium rates when making their crop insurance decisions. RMA …

Crop Insurance News and Analysis – March 12, 2020 – Premium Rate Adjustments for Repairs Breached LeveesRead More

On March 6, 2020, the Risk Management Agency (RMA) issued Managers Bulletin: MGR-20-004, regarding emergency loss procedures for unharvested crops that were flooded above the edible portion. https://www.rma.usda.gov/en/Policy-and-Procedure/Bulletins-and-Memos/2020/MGR-20-004. RMA states that excessive precipitation in 2019 caused flooding in many counties in Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, and South Dakota. RMA states that a significant number of …

Crop Insurance News and Analysis – March 6, 2020 – Emergency Loss Procedures for 2019 Crops Flooded Above the Edible PortionRead More

On March 16, 2020, the Risk Management Agency (RMA) issued Final Agency Determination: FAD 292, interpreting section 20(a) of the Common Crop Insurance Policy Basic Provisions (Basic Provisions). https://www.rma.usda.gov/en/Policy-and-Procedure/Final-Agency-Determinations/Basic-Provisions-20a-FAD-292. The first requestor interpreted sections 20(a) and (b)(1) and (2) of the Basic Provisions to mean that all rights and obligations under the policy are reserved …

Crop Insurance News and Analysis – March 16, 2020 – FAD-292Read More

On March 6, 2020, the Risk Management Agency (RMA) issued an Informational Memorandum: IS-20-001 regarding large claims notification. https://www.rma.usda.gov/en/Policy-and-Procedure/Bulletins-and-Memos/2020/IS-20-001. RMA states that section IV of Appendix I to the Standard Reinsurance Agreement requires that all approved insurance providers (AIPs) comply with all provisions of the large claims procedures as a condition of reinsurance. RMA states …

Crop Insurance News and Analysis – March 6, 2020 – Large ClaimsRead More

On March 3, 2020, the Risk Management Agency (RMA) issued a Fact Sheet for Specialty Crops. https://www.rma.usda.gov/en/Fact-Sheets/National-Fact-Sheets/Specialty-Crops. The Fact Sheet states that certain specialty crops are individually insured and that all specialty crops can be insured under the Whole Farm Revenue Protection policy, which is available in all states and counties in the U.S for …

Crop Insurance News and Analysis – March 3, 2020 – Specialty CropsRead More