The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) Board of Directors (Board) recently approved the following modifications to the Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF) pilot program beginning with the 2016 crop year:
   • Replace the Vegetation Index-PRF (VI-PRF) with the Rainfall Index (RI-PRF) program in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming;
   • Expand RI-PRF to 19 states;
   • Revise the pricing methodology for both haying and grazing practices;
   • Add an irrigated practice for haying in specific states to address added irrigation costs;
   • Add an irrigated and non-irrigated practice reporting requirements on the acreage report; and
   • Remove the RI capping process for PRF only. The capping process remains for Apiculture (API) and Annual Forage.

Producers currently enrolled in the VI-PRF pilot are eligible for the RI-PRF pilot. Qualified producers who were enrolled in the VI-PRF pilot programs in 2015 and who enroll in the RI-PRF pilot for 2015 will be considered carry-over insureds and will not have a break in continuity for insurance coverage purposes.

Producers who previously purchased VI-PRF must complete a new application prior to the sales closing date if they wish to obtain RI-PRF. Producers must use the Grid ID Locator found on the RMA web site at: http://www.rma.usda.gov/policies/pasturerangeforage to establish the grid id for the RI-PRF program.

Sign up for RI-PRF ends with the sales closing date: November 15, 2015. The coverage period follows over the 2016 calendar year.

To learn more about programs offered by the Risk Management Agency see: Risk Management Agency, or contact a local crop insurance agent.

 
Whole-Farm Revenue Protection insurance will be available in every county in the nation in 2016. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is also making changes to the policy to help farmers and ranchers with diversified crops including beginning, organic, and fruit and vegetable growers, better access Whole-Farm Revenue Protection.

Whole-Farm Revenue Protection insurance allows producers with limited access to a risk management safety net, to insure all of the commodities on their farm at once instead of one commodity at a time.

USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) introduced the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection pilot program for the 2015 insurance year. Starting with the 2016 insurance year, the new program will be available in all counties in the United States, a first for the federal crop insurance program.

USDA also provided additional flexibility to producers by making the following changes, including:
   • Beginning Farmers and Ranchers – RMA makes it easier for more beginning farmers and ranchers to participate in the program by reducing the required records from five to three historical years, plus farming records from the past year. Additionally, any beginning farmer and rancher may qualify by using the former farm operator’s federal farm tax records if the beginning farmer or rancher assumes at least 90 percent of the farm operation.
   • Livestock Producers – RMA removed the previous cap that limited participants to those who received 35 percent or less of their income from livestock production. Producers will now be able to insure up to $1 million worth of animals and animal products.
   • Expanding Operations – RMA increased the cap on historical revenue for expanding operations to 35 percent from its previous 10 percent to better allow growing farms the opportunity to cover their growth in the insurance guarantee.

To learn more about programs offered by the Risk Management Agency see: Risk Management Agency, or contact a local crop insurance agent.