US farmers will get a 60-day extension on crop insurance premium payments this year, and USDA will restore prevented planting buy-up coverage, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said.
Rollins made the announcements at Farmfest in south-central Minnesota, where she also described USDA’s plan to improve crop data collection.
Progressive Farmer’s Chris Clayton reported that the Risk Management Agency will give farmers 60 additional days to pay crop insurance premiums. Crop insurance providers will extend scheduled premium billing dates between July 1 and Sept. 30 by 60 days.
For some producers, Rollins said, the extension will matter more than it does for others. Approved insurance providers will have authority to waive interest charges during the extended period. Interest on unpaid premiums and administrative fees will start only after the extra 60 days expire, she said.
USDA also will reinstate the prevented planting buy-up option. Agri-Pulse’s Noah Wicks reported that the coverage lets producers pay a slightly higher premium to qualify for an indemnity payment 5% above basic coverage.
RMA eliminated the option last November. The decision drew backlash from farmers in Arkansas, North Dakota, South Dakota and other states with frequent spring flooding risk. Rollins said she wanted the reinstated option to give producers a stronger way to manage risk when extreme weather or other conditions stop normal planting.
The crop insurance and prevented planting moves, Rollins said, show USDA’s effort to listen, learn, adapt and make faster decisions during a difficult period for farmers.
Rollins also discussed USDA’s data strategy. AgroLatam’s Marcus Ellington reported that the department plans to update the National Agricultural Statistics Service through its One Farmer, One File initiative.
Rollins said farmer participation in USDA surveys has dropped sharply over three decades, falling from about 85% in 1992 to between 38% and 45% today.
Lower participation threatens the accuracy of USDA crop reports, including production estimates and World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates reports. Those reports influence commodity prices, marketing decisions and farm policy.
USDA plans additional producer roundtables across Midwestern states throughout August. The department wants feedback on data collection and ways to make surveys easier for farmers to complete.
Clayton reported that Rollins wants USDA survey systems to become easier and more efficient. She said the department wants to make them the gold standard again.
Rollins also addressed how data work fits with USDA’s reorganization plans. She said too many agency employees work in Washington, D.C., and the department wants staff closer to the people they serve. She did not address whether staff losses at NASS would affect USDA’s ability to improve crop reports and survey responses.
