By Elise Linscott
Drought conditions could prompt more farmers in the western U.S. to finally buy crop insurance in the near future.
Even in states like Washington, where federal crop insurance program participation is relatively high compared to Oregon or Idaho, certain regions have been experiencing unusually dry conditions this summer that may cause farmers to think differently about crop insurance.
“Producers, who don’t typically require supplemental rainfall irrigation, may be particularly vulnerable to severe weather changes,” said Benjamin Thiel, director of the USDA’s local Risk Management Agency (RMA) office in Spokane, Wash.
It’s already been a tough year for certain crops, particularly for Washington’s famous apples. According to a June press release from the RMA, storms producing hail damaged apples across the region that were in early growth stages.
Thiel said claims are still being processed since the current crop insurance cycle hasn’t concluded yet, and it will likely be a while before data is available for analysis.
”We encourage agents to provide their services to underserved areas, which haven’t utilized Federal crop insurance in (the) past,” Thiel said. “In addition, we encourage crop insurance agents to discuss all of the many options available through federal crop insurance, including the Whole Farm Revenue Protection policy.”
Whole-Farm Revenue Protection includes a wide range of available coverage levels, provides coverage for replanting annual commodities and includes provisions that increase coverage for expanding operations. He said. It also allows the inclusion of market readiness costs in the coverage.
“The policy is tailored for most agricultural operations, including farms with specialty or organic commodities (both crops and livestock), or those marketed to local, regional, farm-identity preserved, specialty, or direct markets,” Thiel said.
