1/31/2015
Better Federal Insurance for Your Crops
Chris Beytes
For years, commodity crop farmers in the U.S. have been able to purchase federal insurance to protect their crops from losses associated with natural disasters. Now, specialty crop growers can obtain similar levels of protection through the USDA’s Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program.
The new options, created by the 2014 Farm Bill took effect January 1, providing greater coverage for losses when natural disasters affect specialty crops, such as vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, floriculture, ornamental nursery, aquaculture, turf grass, ginseng, honey, syrup and energy crops.
“For years, commodity crop farmers have had the ability to purchase insurance to keep their crops protected and it only makes sense that fruit and vegetable, and other specialty crop growers should be able to purchase similar levels of protection,” said Secretary Tom Vilsack.
Previously, the program offered coverage at 55% of the average market price for crop losses that exceed 50% of expected production. The new options provide greater coverage. Producers can now choose higher levels of coverage, up to 65% of their expected production at 100% of the average market price. More crops are now eligible for the program.
To help producers learn more about the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program and how it can help them, USDA, in partnership with Michigan State University and the University of Illinois, created an online resource. Check out the web tool at
www.fsa.usda.gov/nap.
GT