Recent News

2010

March

USDA announces risk protection for specialty types of barley
Ag Weekly — March 2, 2010
Effective for the 2010 Crop Year, the Risk Management Agency (RMA) is offering insurance coverage based on contract prices for all practices of certain specialty types of barley (as reflected in the Special Provisions of Insurance)....

Insurance Agents Angry Over U.S. Crop Program Changes
Arthur Postal, National Underwriter Property & Casualty Insurance News — March 1, 2010
WASHINGTON—Crop insurance carriers and independent agents say the U.S. Agriculture Department's latest proposed cuts in subsidies in the program as well as a "soft cap" on agents' commissions are both unwarranted and hurtful....

Vilsack Testifies to House Subcommittee on FY2011 Budget
US AgNet — March 1, 2010
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack testified before the House Appropriations Committee's agriculture subcommittee last week, answering questions on a range of issues, from farm policy to animal identification. He told members that USDA's proposed budget would effectively freeze discretionary programs, though mandatory expenditures for crop insurance and nutrition assistance would increase....

Soggy Soils Complicate Acreage Choices
Linda H. Smith, AgWeb.com — March 1, 2010
Soil moisture is always a factor in what is planted, says John Robinson, Extension economist at Texas A&M University. "When it is dry, cotton may be the crop of choice because it is more drought tolerant – and crop insurance favors it." This year, its effects are different....

February

Specialty Soybeans Get Separate Crop Insurance Treatment
Wallace's Farmer — February 26, 2010
FAQ: We grow specialty soybeans. I've been told we will be able to separate these soybean acres from our conventional soybeans for crop insurance purposes beginning in 2010. What is the benefit of doing this?...

Agents' groups oppose changes to Federal Crop Insurance Program
Keith L. Martin, Insurance and Financial Advisor — February 25, 2010
Three national insurance agents' groups are voicing their opposition to proposed agent commission soft caps and profit-sharing proposals as part of the Federal Crop Insurance Program (FCIP)....

Climate Issues; Biofuels; Food Security; Farm Bill; Crop Insurance; Animal Agriculture; Trade; and CFTC Issues
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — February 24, 2010
The "Washington Insider" section of DTN noted in part yesterday (link requires subscription) that, "One of USDA's most important programs provides a broad range of insurance coverage for farmers. The program is carried out by USDA with on-ground operations by private firms through a massive agreement with the crop insurance industry, the Standard Reinsurance Agreement."...

Ag budget cuts could be reduced
Jerry Hagstrom, AgWeek — February 23, 2010
SAN DIEGO — The Obama administration, which had proposed a $8.4 billion cut in the federal crop insurance program in the next 10 years, is offering to reduce that cut by $1.5 billion to $6.9 billion, a key Agriculture Department official said Feb. 17 in San Diego....

Kansas Farmers Could Lose Crop Insurance
Kara Sewell, KSCW-TV — February 19, 2010
Amid downtown Wellington and the fields of Sumner County, Robert White spends much of his time shuttling between the two.

A crop insurance agent during the week, a farmer on the weekend....

USDA releases crop insurance agreement
Southeast Farm Press — February 18, 2010
The first draft was released Dec. 4, 2009. The new draft includes a series of significant changes, including many discussed during negotiations between the RMA and the participating crop insurance companies....

Crop insurance carries the day for otherwise good crops
Mike Corn, Hays Daily News — February 18, 2010
It wasn't a bumper wheat crop, but the yields were respectable nonetheless. In some cases, in fact, they were darn good, beating out county averages....

Crop Insurance; Biofuels; CRP; Food Security; Climate Issues; and Animal Agriculture
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — February 18, 2010
DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton reported yesterday (link requires subscription) that, "Potential cuts to the crop insurance industry would be about 20 percent less than originally proposed, but agent commissions would be capped under a new draft of the standard reinsurance agreement between USDA and the crop insurance industry, USDA officials said Wednesday."...

Four Weeks And Counting Down: Are You Ready For The Crop Insurance Deadline?
Stu Ellis, CattleNetwork.com — February 16, 2010
Don't look now, but you are only one month away from the March 15 crop insurance deadline, to either sign up, change the type of insurance you have, cancel your automatically renewing coverage, or switch back and forth among your choices on units. You are either ready for the sign up or not at all ready, and your silent response is obvious. So let's start thinking about your production risk management plan for 2010....

Crop Insurance Basics
AgWeb Blog — February 16, 2010
Anything can be insured today; let it be a cat, car, or crop. Crop insurance has been in existence since the early 1930s. Federal crop insurance was established to combat the effects of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. If a farmer were to pick out crop insurance today, they would have many different options to choose from....

Crop Insurance Decisions For 2010
Wallace's Farmer — February 16, 2010
FAQ: What are the main changes I should be aware of regarding crop insurance for 2010?
Answer: Provided by Steve Johnson, Iowa State University Extension farm management specialist.

You have until March 15 to make any changes in your coverage and to notify your crop insurance agent regarding spring planted crops. But don't wait. You need to contact your agent soon....

Unharvested crop means more hoops for insurance
Mikkel Pates, Agweek — February 9, 2010
MINOT, N.D. — There are a number of evolving issues in crop insurance these days, especially as farmers deal with prevent-plant cropping situations that involve the unplanted acreage from the previous year....

Crop Insurance Industry and Iowa's Biggest Farms Face Cuts in Proposed Federal Budget
Wallace's Farmer — February 8, 2010
President Barack Obama's proposals for the 2011 federal budget were released February 1, and they met swift criticism from key farm-state lawmakers. The Obama administration is calling for reducing the planned growth of soil and water conservation programs that are popular in Iowa and other farm states. The programs help curb pollution from farms and feedlots....

Biofuels; EPA Regulations ("Tailoring Rule"); Climate Change; and Crop Insurance
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — February 4, 2010
DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton reported yesterday (link requires subscription) that, "Although the crop insurance industry has been negotiating for weeks with USDA on a new contract for expenses and underwriting gains, it wasn't until President Barack Obama released his budget that crop insurers knew USDA was looking to move $8 billion out of the industry's government payments over 10 years....

Polk Farmers Get Federal Help for Freeze Damages
USDA disaster relief offers up to $100,000 and low-interest loans for freeze damages
Kevin Bouffard, The Ledger — February 2, 2010
HAINES CITY | In the face of a ballooning federal deficit, Uncle Sam will come to the rescue of Florida farmers struggling to recover from last month's brutal freezing weather....

ASA Sees Problems in 2011 Budget Proposal
Hoosier Ag Today — February 2, 2010
The American Soybean Association is expressing disappointment in the Obama Administration's proposal to cut funding in 2011 for key farm programs, federal crop insurance, and the Market Access Program. ASA President Rob Joslin, a soybean producer from Sidney, Ohio, says the plan would undercut long-term economic decisions made by soybean producers. ASA opposed similar proposals by the Administration last year when it tried similar moves that would have reopened the 2008 farm bill....

Obama Seeks Farm Payment, Insurance Support Cuts
Corn and Soybean Digest — February 2, 2010
President Obama's fiscal 2011 budget proposal, which was made public on Monday, calls for lower income caps on eligibility for federal farm programs, a reduction in the maximum amount of direct payments that producers can receive annually and a cut in federal support for crop insurance....

Farm, Insurance Loss Estimates from Florida Freeze Still Weeks Away
Andrew G. Simpson, Insurance Journal — February 2, 2010
It will still be weeks, into March and April, before the full extent of crop damage and insurance payments from Florida's recent extended freeze will be known....

Obama Seeks to Trim Farm, Insurance Subsidies
Bill Tomson, Wall Street Journal — February 1, 2010
WASHINGTON—The Obama administration wants to save billions of dollars by putting new limits on farm subsidies and cutting back on government support for crop-insurance companies, according to the fiscal year 2011 budget proposal released Monday by the White House....

Crop Insurance; Budget; Climate Issues; Sec. Vilsack on Rural America; Ag Economy; Trade; CFTC Issues; and Political Notes
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — February 1, 2010
Crop Insurance: The Standard Reinsurance Agreement

On Friday January 29, FarmPolicy.com spoke with former USDA Chief Economist Keith Collins and Bob Parkerson, the president of National Crop Insurance Services about the federal crop insurance program. Specifically, the conversation focused on the current renegotiation of the Standard Reinsurance Agreement (SRA) that is underway between the crop industry and the USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA)....

January

Crop insurers resist USDA's proposed cuts
Wes Sander, Capital Press Agriculture — January 31, 2010
Crop insurers say USDA's proposed funding cuts to its crop-insurance program will cause their industry to downsize and shed jobs....

Climate Legislation; Trade; CFTC Issues; and Crop Insurance
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — January 28, 2010
A news release issued yesterday by the National Farmers Union indicated that, "Today National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson submitted a letter to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack expressing concern regarding potential cuts to the Federal Crop Insurance Program in the Fiscal Year 2011 Budget....

Crop insurance cuts questioned
Delta Farm Press — January 28, 2010
A proposed $4 billion cut over five years to the USDA crop-insurance program's contracting agreement with private insurance companies has prompted 10 commodity organizations to express their concerns in writing to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack....

The Farm Bill, A Spending "Freeze," and the Federal Debt; Jobs Agenda and Climate Change; and Crop Insurance
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — January 27, 2010
A news release issued on Monday by the National Farmers Union stated that, "Today, the National Farmers Union (NFU), in alliance with nine other national agricultural organizations, sent a letter to United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the draft Standard Reinsurance Agreement (SRA)....

NFU Wants Support for Crop Insurance Funding
NAFB News Service, Hoosier Ag Today — January 27, 2010
National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson has written Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack expressing concern regarding potential cuts to the Federal Crop Insurance Program in the Fiscal Year 2011 Budget. While Congress provided significant funding through the 2008 farm bill, administrative and operating reimbursement was reduced by 2.3 percent and program outlays were reduced by 3.9-billion dollars over five years. NFU emphasizes that cuts should not be made to programs that are critical to the operation of agricultural producers....

Organizations Concerned with Reinsurance Agreement
NAFB News Service, Hoosier Ag Today — January 26, 2010
Ten National Agricultural organizations have sent a letter to Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack concerning the Draft Standard Reinsurance Agreement. The letter highlights the importance of prioritizing the protection of farmers' viability, emphasizing that changes made should not negatively impact farmers and ranchers' ability to access insurance products that are vital to their operations....

Congressional Documents and Publications
InsuranceNewsNet.com — January 25, 2010
Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator for Colorado and member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to proceed with caution on changes to the federal crop insurance program given their potential impact on the lives of Colorado's farmers and ranchers....

Crop insurance being negotiated
Jerry Hagstrom, Agweek — January 25, 2010
WASHINGTON — Crop insurers have proposed to take only a $100 million-per-year cut in its subsidies, much less than the $800 million the Agriculture Department's Risk Management Agency is believed to want as part of a renegotiation of the five-year standard reinsurance agreement, the contract under which 15 companies provide crop insurance....

Private Crop Insurers Oppose Funding Cuts
Insurance Journal — January 22, 2010
The private crop insurance industry is blasting a proposed restructuring in the crop insurance program they say would cut $4 billion -- or $800 million a year -- over the next five years....

Insurers Slam Crop Insurance Program Cuts
Arthur Postal, National Underwriter Property And Casualty Insurance News — January 21, 2010
WASHINGTON—Proposed cuts for the U.S. Agriculture Department's subsidy to the crop insurance program are excessive and will likely lead to more consolidation in a shrinking private crop insurance industry, an insurers' representative told the agency....

RMA Urged Not to Cut Crop Insurance
Michigan Farmer — January 21, 2010
Twenty-six U.S. Senators have signed a letter urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Risk Management Agency to refrain from making deep cuts to the federal crop insurance program. In a letter to RMA Administrator William Murphy, the Senators said a competitive, thriving crop insurance industry is vital to the agricultural economy....

Biotech program netted farmers $50 million in savings in 2009
Agriculture Online — January 20, 2010
Reductions in U.S. crop insurance premiums have resulted in significant farmer and taxpayer savings in 2009, according to data from the pilot Risk Management Agency Biotechology Endorsement program....

USDA looks at cuts to crop insurers
Philip Brasher, Zanesville Times Recorder — January 20, 2010
WASHINGTON -- Crop insurers are going to battle with the Obama Administration over its plans to slash the industry's growing profits....

Climate Change; Disaster Aid; Trade; Crop Insurance; Justice Dept. – Monsanto; and CFTC Developments
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — January 17, 2010
Philip Brasher reported yesterday at the Green Fields Blog (The Des Moines Register) that, "Crop insurers are going to battle with the Obama administration over its plans to slash the industry's growing profits....

Old Man Winter puts squeeze on Florida orange growers
Jeff Casale, Business Insurance — January 17, 2010
MIAMI—Florida growers have yet to determine how much damage their crops suffered from the cold snap that gripped most of the country the first week of January, but insurance experts say much of the expected losses will be covered....

Concern mounting about crop damage
Holmes County Times Advertiser — January 16, 2010
Florida's agriculture industry continues to evaluate the impact of a two-week freeze on fruit and vegetables. Commissioner of Agriculture Charles Bronson estimates about one-third of the crop worth hundreds of millions of dollars has been lost....

Local farmers look ahead to 2010
Ed Gebert, Times Bulletin — January 16, 2010
Farming has always been a risky business. Years of dodging drought and flooding, guessing at future commodity prices and government regulations make many growers into experienced gamblers....

Freeze Grips US South, Causes Millions in Insured Losses
Insurance Net News — January 14, 2010
From Texas to Florida, recent freezing temperatures left damages in a part of the country unaccustomed to cold weather....

Plan Ahead For Crop Insurance In 2010
Wallace's Farmer — January 14, 2010
FAQ: When is the deadline to sign up for crop insurance? Do I really need to buy crop insurance before I sign up for USDA's SURE program in 2010?...

Climate Change Issues; Animal Agriculture; Crop Insurance; Energy Prices; and Crop Reports
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — January 13, 2010
DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton reported yesterday (link requires subscription) that, "A farm-state senator expressed concern Tuesday that proposed cuts in crop insurance could hurt farmers' ability to manage their own risk, and might also appear to pit farmers against school children in the fight for federal dollars....

Freeze Threatens Florida's Tropical Fish
Damien Cave, The New York Times — January 11, 2010
LAKELAND, Fla. — Frosted oranges, strawberries encased in ice: the images of Florida's freezes are familiar, sad and earthy. But just past the crop rows here in the state's agricultural core, there swims another sizable industry that has suffered more than any other because of this year's unusually long cold snap — tropical fish....

Million-Dollar Risk Rides on Couple of Cold Nights in Florida's Berry Fields
Jessica Vander Velde, TampaBay.com — January 10, 2010
PLANT CITY — Carl Grooms' strawberry crop made it through the longest cold snap of his 36-year career, but Saturday left him wondering if all his sleepless nights were in vain....

RMFU cheers completion of disaster relief coverage
AgJournal.com — January 7, 2009
La Junta, Colo. — In a statement this week, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union President Kent Peppler praised the U.S.Department of Agriculture's announcement of disaster relief coverage for farmers....

Right Hand and Left Hand
DeVonna Zeug, FarmPolicyFacts.org — January 2010
It's an odd thing—on one hand Uncle Sam is looking for ways to spend hundreds of billions of dollars to spur jobs creation and economic recovery while on the other hand Washington is proposing a plan that I fear will destabilize crop insurance that we farmers need, lenders require, and billions of dollars in economic activity and thousands of American jobs depend upon....

2009

December

Crop Insurance Deadlines Could Be Extended
Lisa Hare, Yankton Daily Press — December 9, 2009
"From here on out, it's gonna be a fight."

That remark, uttered by a Pierce County (Neb.) producer regarding the remainder of the harvest season, could easily apply to more than half of the South Dakota producers, as well. ...

Not Finished by Dec. 10? Get a Plan.
Linda H. Smith, Top Producer — December 9, 2009
Most spring-planted crops have a Dec. 10 deadline for "end of the insurance period" (EOIP). If you are unable to harvest by then due to extreme wet or snowy conditions, contact your crop insurance company to request an extension....

Climate Issues: EPA Finding, International Talks; Sens. Chambliss and Johanns; Crop Insurance; and Harvest Progress
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — December 8, 2009
Marcia Zarley Taylor reported yesterday at the DTN Minding Ag's Business Blog that, "USDA is trying to eliminate what it considers excess profits in crop insurance industry, but industry sources counter that the Risk Management Agency's proposed contract could thin the herd of crop insurers if it is ultimately implemented."...

Losses tallied as beet harvest ends
Tom Lutey, Billings Gazette — December 7, 2009
The sugar beet harvest has come to a bitter end, with record high prices to be had and some crops still frozen in the ground.

Letters were going out Monday to Western Sugar Cooperative members, informing them the harvest was more or less over, barring an unexpected weather change. A deep freeze in early October severely damaged the region's beet crop. The resulting financial loss to the region's economy, conservatively estimated, is about $5 million....

Farmers urged to contact crop insurance agent
Southeast Farm Press — December 7, 2009
With the wet weather continuing to slow corn and soybean harvest in many areas, National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS) is urging farmers to contact their crop insurance agent as soon as possible....

USDA Releases First Draft of Proposed Crop Insurance Agreement To Protect Farmers From Higher Costs, Rein in Costs, and Improve Access to Crop Insurance Throughout the Country
USDA — December 4, 2009
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 2009 – USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA), which administers the Federal crop insurance program, today released the first draft of a proposed new Standard Reinsurance Agreement between the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and the crop insurance companies which deliver the program nationally. The 2008 Farm Bill authorized RMA to renegotiate the agreement which was last negotiated for 2005....

Climate Issues and Agriculture; Trade; Biofuels; Crop Insurance; and Ag Communications
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — December 1, 2009
An update posted yesterday at the USDA's Risk Management Agency's (RMA) webpage stated that, "[RMA] has released the results of a periodic review of RMA's premium rating methodology. Over the past several years, RMA has engaged contractors and conducted internal assessments of various elements of its premium rating methodology. In 2009, RMA undertook a comprehensive review of all aspects of the Actual Production History (APH) and revenue rating methodologies....

Crop insurance price elections reflect efforts of NSP
Southwest Farm Press — December 1, 2009
The Risk Management Agency (RMA) released a new methodology today showing sorghum's crop insurance price elections at 97.8 percent of the value of corn up from only 88 percent, which translates to a huge victory for the sorghum industry. The National Sorghum Producers (NSP) has been working hard with RMA over the past eight years to improve price elections, and today's methodology demonstrated the organization's ability to deliver tangible results to its members. For sorghum producers, this new value can mean between $20 through $50 per acre or more in increased insurance coverage for sorghum depending on individual yields and coverage levels....

November

New Jersey farmers need to take action if weather has delayed crop harvesting
Hunterdon County Democrat — November 29, 2009
Wet weather has delayed harvest across the country this fall, and Thursday, Dec. 10 is the end of the insurance period for corn, soybeans and grain sorghum in New Jersey....

One Step Closer to Crop Insurance
Soybeans, a 'non-traditional' crop, not covered under current policies
Martha E. Conway, Madison County Courier —
The Madison County Board of Supervisors recently received a letter from the USDA acknowledging receipt of Chairman John M. Becker's Nov. 10 letter asking the department to expand crop coverage to include soybeans....

Climate Issues; Trade; Ag Economy; Crop Insurance; Rural Broadband Hearing; and the Corn Genome
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — November 20, 2009
National Crop Insurance Services issued a news release yesterday which noted in part that, "With the wet weather continuing to wreak havoc on the Midwestern corn and soybean harvest, National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS) is urging farmers to contact their crop insurance agent as soon as possible....

Crop insurance coverage deadline coming up
Farmers: Contact agents now if you think you'll have claims
Agriculture Online — November 19, 2009
A cool summer and rainy fall has left Nebraska's corn crop high in moisture and harvest weeks behind schedule. One thing not to forget, though, is the December 10 deadline for the crop insurance period, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln ag economist says....

Farmers look to crop insurance
Dean Brickey, The East Oregonian — November 18, 2009
PENDLETON - For farmers, buying crop insurance is a way of managing risk, but buying it can keep farmers farming.

Some years the insurance pays off and farmers hit a gold mine; other years their crop pays off and they don't need the insurance....

Wet weather could hinder spring planting
Argus Leader — November 17, 2009
Wet weather this summer could affect crop planting in spring 2010, according to the South Dakota Farmers Union....

Crop insurance extensions may be available due to wet weather
Argus Leader — November 16, 2009
Extensions may be available for crop insurance harvest deadlines due to extremely wet conditions across South Dakota....

Problems With 2009 Harvest Have Implications for Crop Insurance
How will harvest delay and related problems affect your corn and soybean crop insurance coverage?
Rod Swoboda, Wallace's Farmer — November 16, 2009
Farmers are asking questions about how the delayed harvest of 2009 will affect their corn and soybean insurance coverage. December 10 is the key deadline to keep in mind. That's the end of the insurance period for crop insurance....

Crop insurance agent: First contact after washout
Jim Langcuster, Southeast Farm Press — November 11, 2009
"In the past, there have been situations in which a crop is a total loss and insurance adjustors have declared it as such. But don't do anything unless your insurance agent has checked it out."

RMA Provides Information on Obtaining Crop Insurance Extension
Gary Truitt, Hoosier Ag Today — November 4, 2009
USDA's Risk Management Agency has offered guidance on its crop insurance procedures to farmers experiencing delayed harvest across the Corn Belt. RMA has posted to its website, a checklist and explanations to assist farmers who may be impacted by crop losses due to this fall's adverse weather. The checklist is at www.rma.usda.gov....

RMA: If weather delays your harvest, call your insurance agent
Provision would allow more harvest time beyond end of insurance period
Jeff Caldwell, Agriculture Online — November 3, 2009
The weather seems to be breaking from this fall's wet, cool pattern this week in much of the nation's corn- and soybean-growing areas. Many farmers are going to be able to get closer to the finish line for the 2009 fall harvest this week....

Climate Legislation; Crop Insurance-Harvest; Food Safety; Animal Agriculture; and SNAP (Food Stamps)
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — November 3, 2009
An announcement released yesterday by the USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA) stated in part that, "Extremely wet harvest conditions are occurring in many areas causing delayed harvest of sugar beets, potatoes, cotton, corn, and soybeans. In some cases, the moisture content is so high the crop cannot be physically harvested with normal harvest equipment....

Apple farmers howl about crop insurance
New federal ruling on 'fresh,' 'processed' could hurt payout
James Shea, Times-News — November 3, 2009
Henderson County apple farmers are objecting to a proposed change to federal crop insurance that could alter their payout after a catastrophic loss....

Economist: Late Wheat Planting Raises Crop Insurance Issues
AgWeb.com — November 2, 2009
Delayed wheat plantings this fall make crop insurance decision critical and several deadlines loom for producers....

October

Check With Crop Insurance People If You See Mold On Your Corn
Farmers are being hit by big price discounts for high moisture, low test-weight corn; now mold is showing up in some Iowa fields.
Rod Swoboda, Wallace's Farmer — October 31, 2009
The Iowa Corn Growers Association is urging growers who suspect they may have grain quality problems caused by this fall's adverse weather conditions to consult now with their crop insurance providers. Some farmers are filing claims already based on the amount of mold they are seeing on ears in their cornfields....

Grape insurance extended to 7 Wash. counties
Tim Hearden, Capital Press — October 29, 2009
The burgeoning wine industry in Western Washington will find it easier to access a grape insurance program that has been used by growers in California and elsewhere for many years....

Climate Legislation; Farm Bill; Crop Insurance; Biofuels; Food Stamps; CFTC Issues; and EU Issues
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — October 29, 2009
An update posted yesterday at USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA) Online stated that, "RMA today reminded producers of the Nov 20, 2009 sales closing date for crop insurance for perennials and horticultural products...[P]roducers should consult a crop insurance agent to discuss their insurance options."...

Opposed to crop insurance bill
Rebecca Munos, Longview News-Journal — October 29, 2009
Congress has long recognized that a strong crop insurance safety net is in the national interest. The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides insurance to U.S. farmers through the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and allows private insurance companies to participate in the program. According to the GAO, federal crop insurance plays an invaluable role in protecting farmers from losses due to natural disasters and the private insurance companies that participate in the federal crop insurance program are an integral to its success....

Climate Issues; Food Security; Animal Agriculture; Dairy Issues; and Harvest Delays
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — October 28, 2009
DTN Executive Editor Marcia Zarley Taylor noted yesterday at The Minding Ag's Business Blog that, "With all the news reports of crop quality issues in 2009, you'd think phones would be ringing off the wall at crop insurance agencies. Mississippi might be a special case, but agents I've interviewed in Iowa, Indiana and Alabama the last few days feel more like the old Maytag repairman: lonely....

Farmers fret over soggy fields
Rick Barrett, Journal Sentinel — October 27, 2009
The hope for a bountiful fall harvest has turned into a soggy mess for Wisconsin farmers.
Many fields have been too muddy for farm machinery that, by now, should be running day and night.
The state's soybean harvest is weeks behind schedule, largely because the beans are too wet to handle....

Grape insurance program changes announced
Newberg Graphic — October 27, 2009
Program enhancements and expansion of the availability of Federal Crop Insurance Corporation's (FCIC) Grape Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) are now available for the 2010 crop year....

Pennsylvania slashes ag. budget and cuts contributions to crop insurance
Farm & Dairy — October 27, 2009
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Like every state agency, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture took it on the chin when lawmakers adopted their budget, 101 days overdue, early this October.

Comparatively, Pennsylvania's agriculture department fared better than other state agencies. But considering agriculture's status as Pennsylvania's leading industry, a number of farmers are questioning the cuts lawmakers made when they passed the budget Oct. 5th....

Counties designated as natural disaster areas
October 23, 2009
The U.S. Department of Agriculture designated Chouteau, Dawson, McCone and Richland counties in Montana as primary natural disaster areas because of losses caused by the combined effects of drought, a cool and wet spring, late spring frosts, hail, excessive moisture at harvest and weather-related insect damage....

Crop insurance can salvage some loss
Bonnie Coblentz — October 23, 2009
Cotton is expected to take the biggest hit, losing 43 percent of its potential value. Only half the soybeans were harvested when the crop should have been nearly 80 percent complete.

Near-constant rains during harvest-time have cost Mississippi farmers an estimated $371 million in losses, and producers with crop insurance may be the only ones able to salvage much more from the fields this year. ...

Late harvest raises crop insurance concerns
John Hawkins, Illinois Farm Bureau — October 22, 2009
Illinois growers struggling to beat the weather are racing a second clock, forthcoming crop insurance deadlines.

Dec. 10 is the official end of the multiperil/actual production history (APH) insurance period for spring-planted crops. APH policyholders may harvest crops following that deadline, but any weather-related peril that occurs after Dec. 10 will not be covered unless it is determined to be merely a continuation of an existing peril - i.e., wet conditions that have prevented harvest....

Mississippi Farmers Could See 100 Percent Crop Losses
Adam Lynch, Jackson Free Press — October 19, 2009
The Mississippi State Fair isn't the only thing suffering because of the state's run of bad weather. The state is considering declaring entire Mississippi counties disaster areas because of enormous farming losses due to weather, said Mississippi Department of Agriculture spokesman Andy Prosser....

Cool summer weather means fall harvest is behind normal
Larry Dreiling, High Plains Journal — October 16, 2009
Cooler than normal temperatures during the growing season has resulted in slower than normal crop development. What that means to fall harvest is the possibility of some crop losses as normal freeze days occur. ...

Feds take a 'whack' to crop insurance
John Hawkins, Illinois Farm Bureau — October 15, 2009
Amid a continued budget squeeze, increased public scrutiny of the insurance industry, and a need to balance bureaucratic requirements with producer needs, crop insurers are attempting to set their own record straight.

National Crop Insurance Service (NCIS) spokesman Laurie Langstraat notes growing pressure in Washington to "take a whack at (crop insurance), either on the private insurance company side or by cutting premium subsidies to farmers."...

Growers fear looming disaster
Judy Killen, Powell Tribune — October 15, 2009
Temperatures hovered around 22 degrees while Regan Smith harvested snow-covered crops Friday afternoon. Last weekend's bitter weather afflicted local sugar beets, causing severe damage to what was expected to be one of the best crops on record. Beet losses could mount as farmers endure harsh harvest....

Idaho Producers Benefit from New Risk Management Insurance
Special plan covers livestock, bee programs.
Western Farmer-Stockman — October 14, 2009
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Risk Management Agency announces that the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation's board has approved revisions to the Pasture, Rangeland, Forage Pasture, Forage and Apiculture Pilot programs for Idaho producers next year....

Climate Legislation; Food Security; Ag Economy; ACRE- Crop Insurance; C.O.O.L.; Animal Agriculture; USDA Issues; and Sen. Lincoln
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — October 13, 2009
ACRE- Crop Insurance
Ohio State University Agricultural Economist Carl Zulauf penned at item that was posted yesterday at DTN (link requires subscription) entitled, "Why I Chose ACRE."

In part, Dr. Zulauf stated that, "People might assume I would elect the new Average Crop Revenue Election for my corn-soybean-wheat farm in northwest Ohio since I was the developer of many of the central concepts of the ACRE farm program. I strongly believe that ACRE is a farm program for the 21st-century instead of one for 20th-century farming. However, like everyone else, I needed to decide if ACRE fit the needs of my farm. It was not a given that I would choose ACRE. ...

Food Security; Ag Spending Bill (Dairy, Nutrition); Climate Issues; Crop Insurance; and Soybeans
Keith Good FarmPolicy.com — October 9, 2009
Steve Johnson, an Iowa Sate University Extension specialist, noted earlier this week that, "Harvest is upon us and most producers look forward to finalizing their 2009 yields. However, good record keeping during harvest should be practiced. Each year a producer can provide the actual production guarantee from their farm fields to help determine the Actual Production History (APH) for crop insurance purposes. Proving the actual dry weight yields for each farm field or crop insurance unit should be the goal....

Citrus Crop Forecast 2009 / 2010 Released by U S D A
Gary, Southeast Ag Net — October 9, 2009
Florida citrus growers are forecast to produce 136 million boxes of oranges for the 2009/2010 season, according to U. S. Department of Agriculture in its annual October Citrus Crop Forecast released Friday morning October 9. Early-Mids (includes 2.3 M boxes navels) came in at 69 million, and valencias projected at 67 million boxes. FCOJ content is projected at 1.63 gallons per box....

Climate Legislation; Dairy-Animal Agriculture; Crop Insurance; Doha; and Sen. Johanns Discusses the Ag Economy
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — October 7, 2009
An update posted yesterday at USDA's Risk Management Agency Online stated that, "USDA's Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Board of Directors recently approved an additional technology, SmartStaxTM, as a qualifying hybrid for the Pilot Biotechnology Endorsement (BE) program, beginning with the 2010 crop year. SmartStaxTM is a multi-event technology developed by the Monsanto Company and Dow AgroSciences LLC....

Keep good records now for crop insurance later
Changing insurance units ups record-keeping importance
Steve Johnson, Agriculture Online — October 7, 2009
Harvest is upon us and most producers look forward to finalizing their 2009 yields. However, good record keeping during harvest should be practiced. Each year a producer can provide the actual production guarantee from their farm fields to help determine the Actual Production History (APH) for crop insurance purposes. Proving the actual dry weight yields for each farm field or crop insurance unit should be the goal....

Ag Economy; Animal Agriculture; Food Safety; Climate Legislation; and Crop Insurance
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — October 6, 2009
A news release issued last week by National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS) indicated that, "[NCIS] is urging farmers with grain quality concerns to contact their crop insurance agent or company to determine coverage options in case of damage to crops from disease, weatherrelated events, or other causes....

Local farmers to get disaster relief
Stan Freeman, The Republican — October 06, 2009
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved federal disaster relief for 12 of the 14 counties in Massachusetts, including all those in the Pioneer Valley, due to losses created by the growing season's abnormally cool and rainy weather....

September

Climate Legislation; Ag Economy- Animal Agriculture; Food Security; Trade; and Crop Insurance
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — September 29, 2009
Yesterday's Commodity News For Tomorrow newsletter (provided by the CME Group in partnership with Dow Jones & Company) reported that, "The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants to spend less on the federal crop insurance program while at the same time spurring government-subsidized insurers to cover a wider range of farmers, according to USDA officials....

Ag Report: Because there's risk, there's FSA
Tim Ackarman, The Globe Gazette — September 28, 2009
Because there's no sure bets with agriculture, participation in Farm Service Agency programs is good management, says one North Iowa official.

"Agriculture is a risky business," says Michael Larson, executive director of the Hancock County Farm Service Agency (FSA), a branch of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)....

Pa. farmers are urged to get crop insurance
Youngstown Vindicator — September 27, 2009
HARRISBURG, Pa. – Pennsylvania farmers can act now to protect their income against unexpected losses by purchasing crop insurance before Wednesday, said acting Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding.

The Crop Revenue Coverage base fall price for winter wheat is set at $5.29 per bushel for the 2010 growing season....

Free risk management workshops for dairy farmers
WSLS.com — September 21, 2009
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services news release

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) and Virginia Cooperative Extension invite Virginia dairy farmers to attend a series of free seminars on managing risk in the dairy business. The six workshops, which feature nationally and internationally-acclaimed speakers, will address issues such as futures and options contracts, trading on the Chicago Board of Exchange, forward pricing, margin protection and other strategies to help producers stay profitable....

USDA calls most of Calif a drought disaster area
The Associated Press (via San Jose Mercury News) — September 21, 2009
FRESNO, Calif.—The U.S. Department of Agriculture has declared that 50 of California's 58 counties are natural disaster areas because of crop losses due to the ongoing drought.

The declaration by the department will make loans available to farmers who have suffered financial losses from the drought this year....

Quarantine Crop Insurance Now Available for Citrus, Avocados
Jordan Roach, PR.com — September 19, 2009
Fresno, CA, September 19, 2009 --(PR.com)-- This fall, citrus and avocado growers looking to lessen the impact that a quarantine can have on their operations, can take advantage of a pilot quarantine crop insurance program soon to be offered through Mary Roach Insurance Agency Inc....

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan Announces $8.6 Million In Partnership Agreements To Help Small And Underserved Producers
Producers Can Learn New Risk Management Strategies Through 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' Initiative
Shirley Pugh, USDA — September 17, 2009
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced that the Risk Management Agency (RMA) has awarded $8.6 million in partnership agreements to provide producers with opportunities to learn more about managing risk in their businesses, which provides an important educational opportunity for limited-resource and underserved farmers and ranchers. This announcement comes as part of the 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' initiative, a USDA-wide collaboration that will connect people more closely with the farmers who supply their food...

FAQ: USDA Announces Disaster Declaration For 22 Counties In Iowa
Farms in those counties will be eligible for SURE payments on 2009 insured crops, to be received in 2010, if they have 10% or higher yield loss on at least one crop.
Wallace's Farmer — September 15, 2009
FAQ: My crops were hit hard by hail in August. USDA has granted a "Secretarial Disaster Declaration" for my county and a number of others in Iowa in 2009. How does that affect the payments for USDA's Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program--SURE?...

Farmer wants quality to count in crop insurance
Federal coverage program takes only yield numbers into account
Matthew Weaver, Capital Press — September 10, 2009
Wheat farmer Richard Grant had sprout damage on his crops last year due to rain. When an insurance adjuster came out to look his fields over, Grant was told he didn't have an issue because he had an average of 96 bushels per acre, above his proven guarantee of 70 bushels...

Climate Legislation; Senate Ag Committee; Doha; EU GMO Issues; Acreage; Nutrition Programs; Food Safety; and Crop Insurance
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — September 9, 2009
A news release issued yesterday by National Crop Insurance Services stated that, "This is the time of year when farmers face multiple deadlines. They are harvesting their spring planted crops and, depending on the yield and revenue potential, they may need to consider the basics of how to report damage to their crop insurance agent. At the same time they are also making their crop insurance decisions for fall planted crops...

North Carolina urging corn aflatoxin tests
Southeast Farm Press — September 9, 2009
Some farmers may need to have corn samples tested for crop insurance purposes. These farmers must work with their insurance adjuster, and samples for insurance purposes will need to be submitted to a grain marketing location certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The tests cost $22.20. Adjusters should send a 5-pound sample of shelled corn by mail, UPS or FedEx to one of the following USDA-certified grain marketing locations...

Crop failure forces Sweet Seasons Orchard to shift gears for fall
Steven Hepker, Jackson Citizen Patriot — September 06, 2009
A farmer's fortunes can turn on one rainfall, a hail storm, a heat wave or a cold spell. Ed Jasinowski can track his 2009 crop failure to a killing frost June 1.

"You get one shot at it with fruit blossoms, and there is no coming back," Jasinowski said of the chilly night that nipped the apple trees at Sweet Seasons Orchard. "The flowers turned brown and dried up. You think you are safe by June 1."...

Climate Legislation; Doha; Pork Sector; Food Safety; and Crop Insurance
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — September 4, 2009
A news release issued yesterday by CUNA Mutual Group and Producers Ag Insurance Group stated that, "CUNA Mutual Group has reached agreement with Producers Ag Insurance Group (ProAg) to become sole owner of the multi-peril crop insurer, serving farmers and agricultural producers nationwide...

August

Climate Legislation; Ag Economy; Dairy Issues; Food Prices; Nutrition Programs; Crop Insurance; Animal Agriculture; and EU Imports
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — August 26, 2009
A news release issued on Monday by the USDA stated that, "USDA's Risk Management Agency Administrator Bill Murphy will participate in two crop insurance listening sessions in Georgia on Thursday, Aug. 27. The listening sessions will give local producers the opportunity to ask questions about the Federal Crop Insurance program and how the program can benefit Georgia producers." ...

Senators Write RMA on Crop Insurance SRA Process
USAgNet — August 24, 2009
Ten Senators wrote the head of the Risk Management Agency last week, urging cooperation as the Agency seeks to renegotiate the contract between the government and private companies that administer the federal crop insurance program....

2008 A Year In Review
Frank Schnapp, Keith Collins, Mike Sieben, and Thomas P. Zacharias, Crop Insurance TODAY — August 2009
Although the 2008 crop year is definitely behind us at the time of this publication and we are well into the 2009 crop season, the actuarial and statistical results for 2008 are now pretty firm and well into focus. ...

NW wheat starts pouring in
Growers eye insurance coverage, weather, market prices as harvest begins
Matthew Weaver, Capital Press — August 14, 2009
Crop insurance may rescue wheat farmers from low market prices as harvest gets under way in Washington's Whitman County.

The same holds true throughout the Pacific Northwest, said Dave Paul, director of the Spokane regional office of the Risk Management Agency, which oversees Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska. ...

Wheat protection totals $1.36 billion
Matthew Weaver, Capital Press — August 13, 2009
The Risk Management Agency this year saw record numbers in crop insurance participation and total dollars worth of coverage throughout the region, said Dave Paul, director of the Spokane office RMA. ...

July

Climate Legislation; Ag Economy; Animal Agriculture; Food Safety; Crop Insurance; Peanuts; and Nutrition Programs
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — July 27, 2009
An update posted on Friday at the Risk Management Agency Online stated that, "USDA's Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Board of Directors, at its Jun 25, 2009 meeting, approved Kansas, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio for a premium rate reduction for producers who plant Agrisure® 3000GT and Agrisure® CB/LL/RW corn hybrids for non-irrigated corn for grain beginning in the 2010 crop year....

Assessing hail-damaged corn a job for many producers now
Robert Tigner, The Imperial Republican — July 24, 2009
Recent hailstorms and high winds in this area have caused questions about the options farmers have for crop management during the rest of the growing season.

Hail decreases yields by reducing stands as well as destroying leaves. The yield loss severity depends on the crop's growth stage. ...

North Dakota Farmers Receive Significant Crop Insurance Indemnity Payments
ClaimsJournal.com — July 23, 2009
The crop insurance industry has paid more than $825 million to the farmers in North Dakota for losses due to crop loss or decrease in commodity prices for 2008, according to the most recent summary of business data released by the Risk Management Agency. ...

Dakotas Farmers Cash in on Crop Insurance
KFYR-TV — July 21, 2009
The National Crop Insurance Services group says a record $8.6 billion in crop insurance indemnity payments were made to U.S. farmers in 2008, and a lot of that money went to farmers in the Dakotas....

Climate Legislation; ACRE; Trade Issues; and Crop Insurance
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — July 21, 2009
A news release issued yesterday by National Crop Insurance Services stated that, "The results are all but final...a record $8.6 billion in crop insurance indemnity payments were made to U.S. farmers for losses in 2008 because of droughts and flooding in parts of the country along with substantial price declines for some of the majority commodities. ...

Summer rains leave area farmers with a mess
Richard Gootee, New Albany Tribune — July 19, 2009
Sam Hagest, of Valley View Farms in Borden, said he hoped to plant 300 to 400 more acres of corn and soybeans in addition to the 900 he managed to plant at the 1,300-acre farm, but the wet weather made that too risky. ...

Crop insurance agent: damage not out of the ordinary
Midwest Ag Net — July 10, 2009
FAYETTE COUNTY (KWWL) -- Wind and hail damage could be seen in the corn fields following Friday's storm. One of the worst hit areas was north of Westgate and near Hawkeye....

Quarantine Crop Insurance This Fall
USDA to offer quarantine crop insurance for California citrus and avocados.
California Farmer — July 13, 2009
Beginning this fall, USDA will offer California citrus and avocado producers limited crop insurance for losses from quarantines for the 2011 crop year.

The pilot quarantine endorsement that USDA's Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Board of Directors has approved will cover certain types of losses due to quarantines that are imposed by a duly authorized regulatory body. This insurance is designed as an endorsement to existing citrus and avocado policies in California....

Crop insurance agent: damage not out of the ordinary
Midwest Ag Net — July 10, 2009
FAYETTE COUNTY (KWWL) -- Wind and hail damage could be seen in the corn fields following Friday's storm. One of the worst hit areas was north of Westgate and near Hawkeye.

Farmers Mutual Hail insurance agent James Jones was out Friday morning after receiving a half dozen calls from policy holders....

AGRICULTURE SECRETARY VILSACK NAMES WILLIAM J. MURPHY ADMINISTRATOR OF THE RISK MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Shirely Pugh, USDA — July 9, 2009
WASHINGTON, July 9, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today named William J. Murphy as Administrator of USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA).

"Bill has spent nearly three decades in the Federal crop insurance community and he brings valuable hands-on expertise and executive management to the USDA's leadership team," Vilsack said. "His expansive program experience and knowledge of the agency's responsibilities will be invaluable as President Obama and I work to assure the soundness of the safety net for American farmers and ranchers."...

June

Adjusters tour hail damaged fields with area farmers
Chris Williams, WQAD — June 25, 2009
STOCKTON, Iowa - Last week high winds and hail hammered fields near Stockton, Iowa. Today, Insurance adjusters and farmers took a closer look. News 8 Reporter Chris Williams was there and shows us whether there's any hope for a harvest.

Who is best suited to provide crop insurance?
Sara Wyant, AgriPulse (via High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal) — June 12, 2009
A new report is likely to reignite the debate over who should deliver crop insurance policies to farmers and how those service providers should be compensated. Some say the federal government should stop paying so much in crop insurance subsidies, while others suggest that USDA employees could directly provide the same types of risk management tools. ...

Vilsack: Revitalize rural America
Ray Nabors, Delta Farm Press — June 11, 2009
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack visited the Delta Center in Portageville, Mo., recently for a rural community forum to discuss USDA plans to revitalize and rebuild rural America.

President Obama and I are committed to investing in and revitalizing rural communities, in part because they play an important role in our national and international food delivery system," Vilsack said....

Statement before the subcommittee on conservation, credit, energy and research.
Bob Frazee, President and CEO, MidAtlantic Farm Credit — June 11, 2009
Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today on behalf of the Farm Credit System. My name is Bob Frazee, and I am President and CEO of MidAtlantic Farm Credit. MidAtlantic is a part of the nationwide Farm Credit System. My remarks today will provide some background on the Farm Credit System, comments on current credit conditions and the impact of recent financial market disruptions, and discuss how we are working to meet the credit needs of agriculture in the geographic area served by my institution. ...

Replant? Take Prevented Planting Payment? Punt? What Do I Do?
Stu Ellis, CattleNetwork.com — June 4, 2009
Some Cornbelt farmers have had smooth sailing this planting season. They planted into perfect seedbeds early, germination was perfect, and they have a good crop coming out of the first turn. And then, there is your crop, which just can't out of the starting blocks. Some is not planted yet, but what is planted has germinated poorly, was drowned out, and is in dire need of replanting. And with questionable profitability from a mediocre crop, can you afford to replant? What are your options? We're glad you asked! ...

Crop Insurance; Biofuels; CFTC Issues; Climate Change; and Mexican Tariff Issues
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — June 2, 2009
Yesterday, the U.S Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report entitled, "Crop Insurance: Opportunities Exist to Reduce the Costs of Administering the Program" (Full report, 43 pages; One-page recap). ...

May

Biofuels- (Interview with Lee Terry (R-Neb.)); Climate Change; Doha; Food Safety; Ag Credit-Income Issues; and Crop Insurance
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — May 28, 2009
A news release issued yesterday by the Georgia Peanut Commission stated that, "The Georgia Peanut Commission sent a letter this week requesting the Risk Management Agency to extend the peanut planting deadline for crop insurance by a minimum of ten days. The peanut planting deadline for crop insurance is May 31, 2009. ...

Indiana farmers receive crop insurance payments
Terre Haute Tribune Star — May 18, 2009
The crop insurance industry has paid more than $512 million to the farmers in Indiana for losses due to crop loss or decrease in commodity prices for 2008, according to the most recent summary of business data released by the Risk Management Agency. ...

Executive Branch Budget: Crop Insurance; Animal Agriculture; Biofuels; and Climate Change
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — May 15, 2009
Recall that last Thursday (May 7), the Obama administration "unveiled nearly $17 billion in additional budget cuts for the coming fiscal year," and indicated that these savings would accrue "by ending or reducing 121 federal programs" (Jackie Calmes, "Obama Unveils New Budget Cuts." The New York Times. May 8th). ...

NCGA Questions Administration's Proposed Budget Cuts To Farm Programs
CattleNetwork.com — May 13, 2009
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) earlier this year joined a coalition of national farm and agricultural groups to oppose President Obama's proposal to phase out direct payments to farmers with gross sales over $500,000 and cuts in the federal crop insurance program. Even though the House and Senate rejected the funding reductions in the recently passed Budget Resolution, the Obama Administration's detailed budget, released late last week, still includes the proposed cuts. ...

Board accepts $50,000 donation
Ross Dolan, The Daily Republic — May 12, 2009
After a tough year of budget cuts, Mitchell Technical Institute received some good news Monday in the form of a $50,000 donation to the school's agricultural technology department.

Department Chairman Myron Sonne said the money is a gift from Glen Lowrie, president of F&L Crop Services, a local crop insurance company. He is also a member of the department's advisory board. Fellow board member Dean Frederickson presented Lowrie with an award certifying him as a member of the department's "Buckle Club" for his contributions to students and the ag program. ...

Crop replanting complicated by complex farm bill
Candace Krebs, Ag Journal Online — May 1, 2009
Enid, Okla. — With soil moisture levels improving, it might look simple enough for farmers who've lost a wheat crop to freeze damage to turn around and plant a summer crop instead. ...

April

NCC encourages crop insurance updates
Ron Smith, Southeast Farm Press — April 27, 2009
Rickey Bearden depends on crop insurance as an integral part of the risk management program he employs on his Yoakum County, Texas, cotton, peanut and grain farm. ...

Crop Insurance; Climate Change; Biofuels; CFTC Issue; Peanuts; and a CAP Update
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — April 23, 2009
Crop Insurance- Detailed Audio Backgrounder
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak with former USDA Chief Economist Keith Collins and Bob Parkerson, the president of National Crop Insurance Services about the federal crop insurance program. ... Audio Clip

MGGA President Speaks-Out for Crop Insurance
KBFF.com — April 22, 2009
The President of the Montana Grain Growers Association was in Washington, D.C., today, to testify about the Federal Crop Insurance Program. Bing Von Bergen appeared before the House Ag Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management. ...

Be SURE before Replacing Wheat
Pat Hill, DTN Market Matters Blog — April 21, 2009
Producers whose winter wheat crop was lost in the early April freeze need to be careful not to void disaster aid available from SURE.

That's the advice from Art Barnaby, KSU ag economist and crop insurance specialist. ...

Sec. Vilsack; Energy Bill (Cap and Trade); Budget; Crop Insurance; Cuba; and Prospective Plantings
Keith Goode, Farmpolicy.com — April 1, 2009
The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a news release yesterday which stated that, "Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture today Secretary Vilsack outlined the Administration's plans to bring reform to USDA and discussed how the President's budget will revitalize rural America." ...

March

Another farm policy "dust up."
Stu Ellis, Herald & Review Blog — March 29, 2009
...Additionally, the administration budget wants to reduce the cost of the crop insurance program, but details are not spelled out. Such a savings could come in reductions in the premium subsidies, compensation to insurance companies for operating the program on behalf of the USDA, or commissions paid to agents who sell crop insurance. In any case, the proposal could severely restrict a farmer's access to crop insurance or make it prohibitively expensive to the point that farmers would no longer have interest in risk management. ...

Farm Program Payments, Payment Limits, & Crop Insurance Subsidies? Will They Drop?
Stu Ellis, Farmgate (via CattleNetwork.com) — March 24, 2009
In an effort to reduce federal spending the Obama administration has proposed cuts in Direct Payments, lower payment limitations, and a reduction of the level of federal subsidy in crop insurance premiums. ...

Senators Roberts & Lincoln Lead Charge Against Ag Program Cuts In President's Budget
CattleNetwork.com — March 23, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC - In preparation for the upcoming budget debate, U.S. Senators Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) today led a group of bipartisan Senators in sending a letter to Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Ranking Member Judd Gregg (R-NH) strongly opposing the agriculture program cuts included in the President's budget proposal and additional efforts to reopen the 2008 Farm Bill. ...

For Disaster Program Eligibility, Crop Insurance Is Required
Stu Ellis, Farmgate (via CattleNetwork.com) — March 16, 2009
March 16 is the deadline for signing up for 2009 crop insurance for Cornbelt row crops, and farmers not electing crop insurance this year will also be denying themselves access to the SURE program, the USDA's permanent disaster aid program. Supplemental Revenue assistance payments are contingent upon the operator carrying crop insurance or FSA's Non-insurable Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage. That is a change in the 2008 Farm Bill which many farmers may be unaware. ...

Drought a $1 billion disaster in Texas
Betsy Blaney, AP Agriculture Writer, USA TODAY — March 13, 2009
LUBBOCK, Texas — Agriculture officials said Friday that ranchers in the nation's largest cattle-producing state have already lost nearly $1 billion because of Texas' ongoing drought.

Officials said cattle raisers have lost $829 million since last summer, $569 million of that since November. ...

Are You Making Some Last Minute Risk Management Decisions?
Stu Ellis, CattleNetwork.com — March 12, 2009
If you remain befuddled about grain prices and crop insurance, beware that March 16 is the deadline for making crop insurance decisions on Cornbelt row crops, such as corn and soybeans. Last year crop insurance protected high grain prices with the spring guarantee. This year the $4.04 corn and $8.80 soybean base prices may again be the highs or could be the lows, but regardless, your investment in crop inputs needs to be protected. Not much time is left if you are unsure which of many choices to make. Here is one suggestion. ...

Reaping farmers' profits
Tim Leeds, Havre Daily News — March 10, 2009
The proposed federal budget for fiscal year 2010 is raising some eyebrows in the agriculture industry, including a provision that cuts off direct payments if a farmer grosses more than $500,000. Ryan McCormick of Kremlin said that cutoff, especially in this period of up-and-down grain prices and production costs, could affect many local farmers even if they are not making a profit. ...

Best Buys for Crop Insurance
Marcia Zarley Taylor, DTN/Progressive Farmer — March 6, 2009
If you're suffering sticker shock from crop insurance premiums this year, take heart. For the most popular revenue-based products - Revenue Assurance and Crop Revenue Coverage - you're buying substantially less coverage per acre than 2008, without huge price discounts....

Buried treasure? Farmers wonder what's left of corn stranded in the fields
Mikkel Pates, Agweek — March 2, 2009
MADDOCK, N.D. — What's the future for the snowbound corn, foundering in the fields of North Dakota and western Minnesota? ...Among the 1,000 acres Foss farms, 250 acres are corn. And this year, the snow is in the corn. He figures only 10 percent to 15 percent of the corn in his area was harvested. A lot of standing soybeans in wet areas were lost, too. ...

2008 crop insurance indemnity payments near $6.5 billion
Southwest Farm Press — March 2, 2009
Because of droughts and flooding in parts of the country along with substantial price declines for corn and soybeans, indemnity payments on crop losses during the 2008 growing season reached nearly $6.5 billion in mid February with more claims yet to be processed. ...

February

You can't afford to ignore ACRE
Linda H. Smith, AgWeb.com — February 28, 2009
Don't write off signing up for the new ACRE program because you don't want to bother comparing it to traditional programs, urges Carl Zulauf, Ohio State University Extension economist. Compare the two program suites: ...

U.S. farmers face shrinking markets, subsidy woes
Russell Blinch, Reuters — February 26, 2009
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - American farmers will face shrinking export markets and sharply retreating prices this year while some of the richer ones will fight to hang on to long cherished subsidies... Obama also sought elimination of cotton storage payments, reduction in the crop insurance subsidy and reform of a program to build overseas markets for U.S. goods. ...

Crop Insurance Subsidies Cut in Budget Proposal
Lavonne Kuykendall, WallStreetJournal.com — February 26, 2009
CHICAGO -- Insurers that administer the U.S. Agriculture Department's crop insurance program will see their federal paycheck cut by $5.2 billion over the next decade, as the Obama administration looks to cut waste... The White House is proposing to cut spending on farm subsidies by about $2 billion annually by, among other things, imposing a tougher means test on growers and trimming subsidized crop insurance. ...

Crop Insurance Premiums Lowered For 2009
CattleNetwork.com — February 24, 2009
Changes to crop insurance policies in 2009 may impact farmer choices, said a University of Illinois Extension farm financial management specialist. "Two changes reduce premiums on Crop Revenue Coverage (CRC) and Revenue Assurance (RA)," said Gary Schnitkey. "Higher subsidy levels have been implemented for enterprise units, and the Biotech Endorsement (BE) has been expanded. ...

Fine Tune Your Risk Management Program For 2009
Stu Ellis, CattleNetwork.com — February 24, 2009
With corn and soybean prices insufficient to cover operating and land costs for 2009, the financial risk for many farmers will be a burden. Lenders are/will be pushing for a strong risk management program that may include crop insurance, a marketing plan, and the ACRE farm program and SURE disaster program. Rain or heat in the wrong week will be unwelcome in 2009 with such thin margins, and could result in a financial disaster. ...

ACRE Program Could Be An Attractive Option For Producers
Katie Pratt, University of Kentucky, CattleNetwork.com — February 17, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky.-- Farmers know each growing season poses its own risks and uncertainties. As producers try to predict and plan for potential risks for the upcoming year, they may want to look into Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE), a new risk protection program created by the 2008 Farm Bill. The ACRE program is available to producers of corn, soybeans, wheat, barley, upland cotton, oats, peanuts, pulse crops, rice, sorghum and other oil seeds. ...

Crop insurance coverage for land emerging from CRP important
High Plains/Midwest Ag-Journal — February 13, 2009
Federal crop insurance policies require that acreage must have been planted and harvested in at least one of the three previous crop years unless such acreage was left unplanted in order to comply with any other USDA program. Therefore, acreage coming out of a Conservation Reserve Program contract would be insurable. ...

Extra crop insurance "homework" paid off last year
Enterprise units expected to be popular in 2009
Sara Wyant, High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal — February 13, 2009
...In some cases, Nebraska farmers experienced little or no yield loss, marketed soybeans for between $12 to $15 per bushel and still received crop insurance payments of $95 per acre or more, says Ruth Gerdes, a crop insurance agent with the Auburn Agency, Auburn, Neb. Gerdes says that the payouts vary, but 99 percent of her customers in the nine states she serves buy some type of revenue-based policies and reaped the benefits this year. ...

Uncertain Market Prices. High Production Costs. How Do You Cover Your Risk?
Stu Ellis, CattleNetwork.com — February 10, 2009
"You are operating in a new era of financial risk in agriculture. The bullish market of the past two years is history. But the high cost of production is the present. How do you manage production, marketing, and revenue risk in the current environment? Is the answer a wing and a prayer? Is the answer a seat of the pants marketing plan? To manage today's risk will take some expense, but it will also take knowing what crop insurance programs to select. And there are many decision aids available." ...

Crop Insurance Has Some Changes for 2009
Iowa State University Extension News — February 6, 2009
"Producers should carefully calculate their insurance coverage needs before meeting with their crop insurance agent this year. Higher input costs and lower indemnity prices mean farmers will have to choose a higher percentage level of coverage to protect their costs of production." ...

Insurance options for farmers can help protect revenue in 2009
Duane Griffith, MSU Extension Farm Management — February 4, 2009
"As farmers and ranchers finalize production and marketing plans for 2009, many expect declining revenue for small grains and livestock commodities. Two options that may help producers protect against price/revenue declines in 2009 are Crop Revenue Coverage (CRC) and AGR Lite, a relatively new USDA insurance product. Both of these insurance products can help minimize the impact of price decreases, especially for grain growers." ...

Crop Insurance Questions
Retha Colclasure, KFYR-TV — February 2, 2009
"February has barely begun, but farmers across the state are already looking towards spring planting. But this year won't be as easy to figure out what crops to put in the ground. And that's making it harder for farmers to figure out what they should get crop insurance for." ...

Wheat Farmers Worry About Crop
Kara Sewell, KWCH — February 2, 2009
"Lush and green and can hardly see the top soil," says Bob Hay. In February, that is what a wheat crop is supposed to look like, instead. "It looks like dirt," says Hay." ...

January

Sunflower crop insurance expanding in 2009
John Sandbakken, Farm & Ranch Guide — January 31, 2009
"Revenue Assurance (RA) crop insurance will be available to sunflower producers in Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska and Texas in 2009. All counties in these states that currently offer multi-peril crop insurance will now have RA as an option as well." ...

ACRE: Are You Still Uncertain About Signing Up?
Stu Ellis, CattleNetwork.com — January 29, 2009
"The crop insurance deadline and planting time will have come and gone by June 1, when Cornbelt farmers will have to decide whether to enroll in the ACRE program for 2009. It is a one-way decision, since you cannot reverse the decision, but it is one that can be deferred until 2010. ACRE is the Average Crop Revenue Election element in the new Farm Bill, which is designed as a risk management program, rather than a price support like counter cyclical payments. If you are unsure whether to sign up, read on ..."

Crop budgets reveal uncertain times
Paul L. Hollis, Southeast Farm Press — January 21, 2009
"Another factor in crop selection will be insurance, and how that'll be affected by what the market does in terms of cotton, corn and soybean prices, he says. Revenue insurance was attractive last year at deadline time, but if the market rallies in January, it might change the entire picture" ...

Schock gets USDA aid on pennycress. Plan could give farmers security while growing alternative fuel source
Clare Howard, Peoria Journal Star — January 14, 2009
"PEORIA — U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock met Wednesday with officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and secured help for the commercialization of pennycress, a crop that could mean $88 million for central Illinois farmers." ...

An ACRE Of Indecision For Farmers In 2009
Alabama Cooperative Extension, Cattle Network — January 14, 2009
"Farmers face an ACRE of indecision both literally and figuratively in 2009. Literally speaking, a big decision this coming year will involve what to do — or not do — about ACRE, the Average Crop Revenue Election Program. The risk management features associated with ACRE may benefit some producers, he says, but each individual will have to figure this out based on their own situation...ACRE is a complicated program, and producers should look at the entire picture" ...

Drought study warns West Texas farmers
Christopher Arnold, The Daily Toreador — January 12, 2009
"Early results from a research study about drought headed by a Texas Tech associate professor show Lubbock farmers and ranchers are fairly well prepared for a drought, but El Paso farmers are not. The study is about the farmers, ranchers and agricultural installations in and near the Lubbock and El Paso areas and the preparations they have made to protect themselves from potential droughts." ...

2008

November

Volatility makes risk management
Southwest Farm Press — November 25, 2008
"Crop insurance is essential for my risk management," Dodson says. "Insurance choices have widened with more products available and new crop planting ...

Crop Insurance: Coverage & Costs Adjust With Higher Crop Prices
CattleNetwork.com — November 14, 2008
Federally subsidized crop insurance, which includes a variety of crop yield and revenue insurance options, protects participating producers against risks ...

Corn crop down, soybeans increase
High Plains Journal — November 21, 2008
Input costs have been on most farmers' minds with high fuel prices as well as higher prices for fertilizer, crop insurance, seed and utilities ...

October

Conference, Offers Crop Insurance Info, Grain Outlook
Lancaster Farming — October 24, 2008
The ninth annual Crop Insurance Conference was held here Tuesday at the Farm Show Complex. Attending the meeting were extension service representatives ...

August

Hailstorm damages crops in Jefferson County
Hagerstown Morning Herald — August 11, 2008
Magaha said he has crop insurance to help protect him against crop damage but Grantham said he did not have any because insurance is not available for ...

Del. increases crop insurance funding after Md. cuts money for its program
Baltimore Sun — August 03, 2008
In a move that makes Maryland look a bit cheap, Delaware is boosting its state funding for a farm crop insurance program after Maryland eliminated funding ...

July

Dispatches from the Fields: The risks of farming for 'non-farmers'
Grist Magazine — July 22, 2008
For conventional commodity crop farmers, that feeling is fleeting; they can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that government-backed crop insurance and ...

Crop insurance may cover wheat quality losses
High Plains Journal — July 10, 2008
Farmers suspecting they have losses due to wheat quality problems this harvest are advised to let their crop insurance agent know as soon as possible, ...

Crops not entirely ruined
Herald Index — July 03, 2008
"Basically, all a grower can do is look at their crop insurance," he said. Saeugling serves Dallas, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Polk, Poweshiek and Warren ...