Convo 71

USDA’s Risk Management Agency recently announced the improper payment rate — a closely-watched standardized measure of waste and abuse required of all major federal spending programs – fell sharply last year for crop insurance. The rate dropped to a new level of 2.20 percent, representing a 62 percent drop from the prior year’s 5.58 percent.

Ken Ackerman, a former Administer for USDA’s Risk Management Agency and now a Washington D.C. based legal counsel, recently wrote a blog post explaining why that  drop matters.

Convo 71

USDA’s Risk Management Agency recently announced the improper payment rate — a closely-watched standardized measure of waste and abuse required of all major federal spending programs – fell sharply last year for crop insurance. The rate dropped to a new level of 2.20 percent, representing a 62 percent drop from the prior year’s 5.58 percent.

Ken Ackerman, a former Administer for USDA’s Risk Management Agency and now a Washington D.C. based legal counsel, recently wrote a blog post explaining why that  drop matters.

Convo 70

Nearly 90 percent of Americans have a favorable view of farmers, and 92 percent said it was important to provide farmers with federal funding, according to a new national poll released this week. The poll, commissioned by the National Crop Insurance Services, surveyed 1,000 registered voters in early April. Jon McHenry is the Vice President of North Star Opinion Research, the research firm that conducted the poll.

Convo 70

Nearly 90 percent of Americans have a favorable view of farmers, and 92 percent said it was important to provide farmers with federal funding, according to a new national poll released this week. The poll, commissioned by the National Crop Insurance Services, surveyed 1,000 registered voters in early April. Jon McHenry is the Vice President of North Star Opinion Research, the research firm that conducted the poll.

Convo 70

I use crop insurance as a safety net to protect my assets in case of a fallout disaster. Younger producers use it to go to the bank to borrow for operating loans and tell them, ‘I’m protected.’

Convo 70

I use crop insurance as a safety net to protect my assets in case of a fallout disaster. Younger producers use it to go to the bank to borrow for operating loans and tell them, ‘I’m protected.’

Convo 69

Insurance not only allows farmers to face natural disasters and damaging production years without losing everything, but it provides assurance that we can make payments to our banks. The same way any person in this country cannot get a house loan or a car loan without proof of insurance, agricultural banks want the guarantee that farmers can make their payments.

Convo 68

Farmers buy crop insurance for the same reason drivers purchase auto insurance: it offers some degree of stability in times of disaster. Crop insurance has become, in essence, the nation’s insurance policy for the food supply. When Mother Nature strikes and farmers lose their crops, those with crop insurance policies in hand can bounce back and plant again the next year.

Convo 68

Farmers buy crop insurance for the same reason drivers purchase auto insurance: it offers some degree of stability in times of disaster. Crop insurance has become, in essence, the nation’s insurance policy for the food supply. When Mother Nature strikes and farmers lose their crops, those with crop insurance policies in hand can bounce back and plant again the next year.

Convo 67

I believe crop insurance is stronger today for the obstacles it has faced in recent years and most importantly, it is ready to meet tomorrow’s challenges.

Convo 66

Crop insurance, which underpins the nation’s agricultural bounty, works like other kinds of insurance, and it is particularly important in a state like California that has such a diverse and thriving agricultural sector. In fact, for most fruit and vegetable growers it is the only safety net available.

Convo 65

Crop insurance and farm policy enables everyone – from the farmer to the banker to the taxpayer – to plan for those disasters and overcome them when they happen. If lawmakers continue to try and chip away at this safety net, farmers will not have the ability to survive. This is especially true for young, beginning farmers that have less access to credit and capital.

Convo 64

We are confident that the chair and the ranking member on the Senate Ag Committee — Senators Roberts and Stabenow — will hold the line and be true to their word that those appropriated funds will not come out of the ag committee, or the Farm Bill or even out of jurisdiction in the ag committee. However, there are always attacks on crop insurance and we need to be vigilant with all members of Congress that agriculture paid its fair share negotiating the last Farm Bill. Agriculture donated to help balance the budget. If other sectors of the economy ever gave in the way agriculture already has — we would have a balanced budget. It is unacceptable to us that they come to agriculture first for more cuts and we are going be vigilant and stand against that.

Convo 63

The United States learned through experience that handling natural disasters after the fact is not only destabilizing for farmers but expensive for taxpayers.  To encourage more farmers to purchase crop insurance – thus laying their personal risk management groundwork before a possible disaster – the government began helping discount premiums to ensure that coverage is affordable, available to everyone, and economically viable.

Convo 63

The United States learned through experience that handling natural disasters after the fact is not only destabilizing for farmers but expensive for taxpayers.  To encourage more farmers to purchase crop insurance – thus laying their personal risk management groundwork before a possible disaster – the government began helping discount premiums to ensure that coverage is affordable, available to everyone, and economically viable.

Convo 62

In the wake of a devastating disaster, crop insurance offers a lifeline. It is one of the most important, reliable, and cost-effective parts of the safety net here in the United States.

Convo 61

As a crop insurance agent who was on more than a few farms the day after Hurricane Katrina struck, I can tell you first hand that crop insurance was a financial lifeline for many farmers.  Katrina hit so many farmers who had never before gone through a large-scale natural disaster that wiped out their entire crop at harvest time.

Convo 61

As a crop insurance agent who was on more than a few farms the day after Hurricane Katrina struck, I can tell you first hand that crop insurance was a financial lifeline for many farmers.  Katrina hit so many farmers who had never before gone through a large-scale natural disaster that wiped out their entire crop at harvest time.

Convo 60

I’ll never forget the faces of young farmers shaken by the sight of their year’s income slowly withering in the fields. Most of them had purchased crop insurance, which allowed them to put their worries on the back burner and focus on what they could do right then to make things better.

Convo 59

So how do farmers gain some control over the uncontrollable and add stability to the region’s economy? Crop insurance is key. Farmers purchase protection from weather disasters and price volatility, while private-sector insurers underwrite policies, verify claims and speed assistance to farmers when it is needed most. The government, in turn, helps discount premiums to promote farmer participation and shield taxpayers from unbudgeted disaster aid that would be necessary without the private-sector insurance structure.

Convo 58

Mother Nature is the toughest, most unpredictable boss. Farmers are resilient and they adapt, but a safety net is crucial to their survival. And, it’s not a safety net if it’s not affordable.

Convo 58

Mother Nature is the toughest, most unpredictable boss. Farmers are resilient and they adapt, but a safety net is crucial to their survival. And, it’s not a safety net if it’s not affordable.

Convo 57

I would not have had the opportunity to grow my farm without crop insurance.

Convo 57

I would not have had the opportunity to grow my farm without crop insurance.

Convo 56

We live in one of the richest nations in the world and virtually anything you want to eat is right at your fingertips.  But that doesn’t occur by accident.  It’s possible due to good farm policies and hardworking farmers, who together produce the cheapest and most reliable food in the world. Nowhere else has been able to compare to the efficiency we’ve achieved in this country.   And I’ll be forever proud of that fact.

Convo 55

With the cost of farming so high, most farmers must show proof of crop insurance to secure production loans from banks. This allows banks to make production loans to folks who might otherwise be judged too risky. One of those groups is young farmers. They are the key to the future of American agriculture. For them, if they haven’t purchased crop insurance, one bad year and they are done.

Convo 54

Farmers buy crop insurance to protect their crops from volatile weather and/or crop prices.  It gives farmers and lenders peace of mind.  The 2014 Farm Bill solidified crop insurance as the primary tool for farmers in dealing with production and price risk.  Farmers urged Congress to strengthen crop insurance because it allows them to tailor the coverage needed for their specific farms and risk tolerance.

Convo 54

Farmers buy crop insurance to protect their crops from volatile weather and/or crop prices.  It gives farmers and lenders peace of mind.  The 2014 Farm Bill solidified crop insurance as the primary tool for farmers in dealing with production and price risk.  Farmers urged Congress to strengthen crop insurance because it allows them to tailor the coverage needed for their specific farms and risk tolerance.

Convo 53

“Let’s face it, if we don’t do that, the government will step in anyway in that kind of disaster and all the costs will be paid by taxpayers. Washington D.C. can help provide the safety net, but they shouldn’t dictate the terms.”

Convo 52

We want crop insurance for all commodities in all states. It’s very clear every commodity wants to have crop insurance.

Convo 51

There is no question that crop insurance IS today and will be tomorrow, the linchpin of the safety net program.

CONVO 50

Farmers spend tens of thousands of dollars and then pray for good weather. If it all comes together, you’ve got a bountiful harvest and you’re set for the next year. If it doesn’t, then hopefully you have crop insurance.

Convo 49

Crop insurance has provided some peace of mind for many of our growers.  Some growers will collect due to drought this year and that will save them.

Convo 48

Production agriculture is constantly changing. Crop insurance is right there, making sure farmers have a modern and affordable risk management tool at their disposal.

Convo 48

Production agriculture is constantly changing. Crop insurance is right there, making sure farmers have a modern and affordable risk management tool at their disposal.

Convo 47

As a crop insurance agent, I can tell you firsthand that crop insurance is no small expense for most of the state’s farmers, who spend north of $20,000 a year purchasing policies that they pray they will not need.

Convo 46

Providing farmers the option to insure their whole farm at once gives farmers more flexibility, promotes crop diversity, and helps support the production of healthy fruits and vegetables. More flexibility also empowers farmers and ranchers to make a broader range of decisions with their land, helping them succeed and strengthening our agriculture economy.

Convo 45

Their policy, most people forget, will have a 20 percent deductible to it.  How would you like to have a homeowner’s policy with a 20 percent deductible?

Convo 44

After all, federal crop insurance is a key component of many farmers’ risk management portfolios, and it’s critical that Congress understood how a good crop insurance program can minimize exposure risks to taxpayers while providing a sound base for farmers and ranchers.

Convo 43

Losing a crop is very disappointing, especially when you are at the very end, you are close to harvest, you put all of this time and money into it, and then you lose it. That is when it is nice to have crop insurance.

Convo 42

Today, crop insurance is the foundation of this Farm Bill and the farm safety net. The farmer gets a bill, not a check with crop insurance…and they don’t get help unless they really need it.

Convo 41

Had we not had that safety net, it might be difficult for you to walk to the supermarket and pick up that loaf of bread.

Convo 40

“In addition to covering a host of other crop insurance-related issues, the newly released online resource also addresses major and minor policy changes in the 2014 Farm Bill, including the introduction of new products including SCO and STAX, new products available for beginning farmers, the link between the premium discount and conservation and newly authorized pilot programs.” Dr. Keith Collins, economic consultant to National Crop Insurance Services

Convo 40

“In addition to covering a host of other crop insurance-related issues, the newly released online resource also addresses major and minor policy changes in the 2014 Farm Bill, including the introduction of new products including SCO and STAX, new products available for beginning farmers, the link between the premium discount and conservation and newly authorized pilot programs.” Dr. Keith Collins, economic consultant to National Crop Insurance Services

Convo 39

“The industry fully understands the responsibility we carry as farmers’ primary risk management tool. We feel blessed to be in this position and are fully committed to improve the integrity of the system, develop new policies for crops that aren’t currently covered, and deliver first-rate customer service to our farmer customers.” Tom Zacharias, President, National Crop Insurance Services

Convo 38

The bill also strengthens crop insurance, which is an essential cost-effective risk management tool. With crop insurance, farmers invest in their own risk management by purchasing insurance policies so they are protected in difficult times. Crop insurance also helps protect Americans from spikes in food prices. Without crop insurance farmers would have no way to recover from disaster unless the government steps in and provides unplanned disaster assistance.

Convo 37

Given our new ‘normal’ characterized by volatility everywhere-in weather, markets and regulation-farmers would struggle without access to crop insurance, a vital tool for rural America and the new face of farm policy.

Convo 36

Farmers are not paid to buy crop insurance. Farmers pay for crop insurance. They spent about $4 billion of their own money in 2012 for premium, and last year when we had the catastrophic drought through the Midwest, before those deductibles kicked in, farmers absorbed just under $13 billion in uninsured losses.

Convo 35

Crop insurance is a partnership between the farmer, the government and the insurance company. The farmer pays some and the government pays some and this benefits the entire economy and the entire country.

Convo 34

Without crop insurance, these farmers would have no way to recover from these devastating conditions unless the government would step in to provide immediate, unplanned, and unbudgeted disaster assistance. With crop insurance, farmers are able to plan for disasters by paying for coverage. This coverage doesn’t make them whole, but rather helps them survive.