New subsidy for farmers has backing from lawmakers in the farm states

Lawmakers in the farm states are making efforts to form a brand new type of subsidy that would provide farmers with protection when they face a drop in revenue. This program is unprecedented and would provide farmers with billions of dollars in future support to farmers who are currently experiencing record breaking high prices for their crops. This free insurance subsidy would give farmers with the coverage they need for “shallow crop losses” that are incurred before their paid insurance policies become effective and has the support of soybean and…

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Congress to determine the fate of crop insurance – plans for income insurance in the works

The agriculture industry in the U.S. has been battered by recent natural disasters. These events have damaged crops and, in some cases, completely demolished farmland in the Eastern states. Congress is now drafting new insurance regulations that would birth a new subsidy for farmers that have seen their livelihoods put at risk due to storms and other natural disasters. The insurance plan will help protect the income of farmers, but several insurance groups have voiced their opposition for the plan, arguing that it could encourage farmers to adopt risky practices.…

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New York farmers to get more aid from insurers after tropical storms

Farmers in New York will be getting some additional help from insurers after requests for financial aid were approved by Governor Andrew Cuomo. New York farmers have been struggling to recover from recent tropical storms that struck the East Coast. Tropical Storms Irene and Lee brought widespread flooding to the state, which caused damage to more than 320 farms. In some cases, these floods completely decimated crops, leaving farmers without a way to generate revenue. Governor Cuomo has approved a plan to distribute an additional $850,000 to more than 100…

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USDA Risk Management Agency approves 2012 pilot insurance for pistachio crops

The USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) has announced the start of a new pilot pistachio crop insurance that will start with the crop year in 2012. The Pistachio Crop Insurance Program will make coverage accessible to 21 California counties, as well as one in New Mexico and two in Arizona. The names of the counties where the insurance will be available will soon be announced. The length of the pilot program is anticipated to be two years and the policy will be production based. The program itself received its initial…

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AIR Worldwide Launches Multiple Peril Crop Insurance Model for China

Catastrophe risk modeling firm AIR Worldwide (AIR) released the industry’s first Multiple Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) Model for China. The new model provides a fully probabilistic approach for determining the likelihood of losses to the country’s major crops: corn, cotton, rapeseed, rice, soybeans, and wheat. The model captures the significant effects that weather-related perils have on each crop during the growth stage. This detailed information will help companies better prepare for and understand the exposure they carry based on China’s specific insurance programs, which tend to vary by province. “China…

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Agriculture Secretary recommends changes to nation’s crop insurance system

Agriculture insurance is becoming a major issue in the U.S. Federal legislators are currently working on a new bill that would reform the crop insurance system, but have yet to define any major benefits that should be awarded to farmers. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has issued recommendations to lawmakers, noting that more emphasis should be put on natural disasters and other environmental factors when reforming the insurance system. Vilsack believes that farmers will benefit most from policies that help them recover from extreme flood events or severe droughts. An…

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Texan farmers to receive insurance aid while battling extreme drought

Texas has been struggling to cope with one of the most severe droughts in the state’s history. The dry conditions have sparked a rash of wildfires throughout the state, which have burned crops and homes alike. The state’s insurers have been working to mitigate the damage caused by the extreme conditions and for those that lost their homes to fire, recovery is quickly becoming a reality. Good news is on the horizon for thousands of farmers who had their crops destroyed by the drought as well. More than 41,000 Texan…

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