The price of nearly everything at the grocery store is on the rise and coverage might be exacerbating it. Federally subsidized crop insurance programs have incentives built in that can, in certain circumstances, make it more profitable for farmers to abandon their attempts to grow than it is to plant a field of food. The weather conditions this year are playing into those circumstances, further risking the US food supply. Unusually cold and wet weather in many Midwestern states, such as Minnesota, have meant that only a small percentage of…
Read MoreTag: farmers crop insurance
Crop insurance has become critical to the survival of some farmers
This year’s droughts have made the coverage vital to many American growers. Farmers have been helplessly watching their corn, wheat, and other produce wither and die and are now relying on crop insurance to get them through the worst drought that the United States has seen in over a half century. The federal program to protect growers has become an important part of survival this year. Without its assistance, many farmers – who are already battling with the high prices of land, cash rents, and high price inputs – would…
Read MoreImportance of crop insurance highlighted at the 26th Annual Corn Growers Association meeting
As farmers from all over the country convened over the weekend to attend the 26th Annual Corn Growers Association in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, crop insurance was on everyone’s mind. With 2011 being recognized as a record breaking year in terms of natural disasters, and the persistent problems spawned from a turbulent climate, farmers throughout the country have been facing significant difficulties with keeping their crops alive. As crops are lost, farmers lose their ability to make a living. Most farmers receive money from the government, but this money is…
Read More