Jesse Allen gets an update on USDA RMA at the NAFB Conference with Francie Tolle, Deputy Administrator of Compliance.
Q: Let’s talk first from the RMA side. Obviously, we’ve seen some major natural disasters as of late: hurricanes in the Southeast, that’s been a big talking point and issue for a lot of producers down there.
And I know that RMA, there’s been relief for producers affected by the hurricanes. Can you give us kind of an update on that situation?
FT: Yes, hurricanes have been devastating in the Southeast this year. In 2020, we came out with the hurricane program and then last year, tropical storm endorsement. And so that program has really been able to help producers a significant amount and be able to get payments out there in 10-15 days. So it is the fastest paying program out there to get relief to producers.
Q: I know there’s been a lot of specialty crop programs. You guys have rolled out a lot of different things at RMA over the year, plus I keep seeing the news releases and more. You guys have a lot of different items out there for producers.
FT: Yeah, the goal has been to get a crop insurance program for every single agricultural producer in the nation. And we’ve really made a lot of strides in the last few years, like you said, for individual policies, rather, that’s something like controlled environment shellfish.
I mean, just crops that people thought we would never be able to insure, we’re insuring, along with the whole farm revenue program and the micro farm program that ensure all crops under one policy. So if somebody’s hugely diversified and there’s not an individual crop policy for them, they could do whole farm or micro farm.
Q: And I think it’s key to emphasize for listeners that work with their local crop insurance agent, that’s how they can take advantage of many of these different products out from USDA RMA. It’s just important to have that conversation, isn’t it?
FT: Absolutely. You know, the crop insurance agents in your local community are the ones that really know the agronomics of the area. You can talk to them about your specific farm, get something that’s tailored more to you and so you can pick who you want to work with.
And if you don’t have an agent, you can go on our website.
Q: There’s an agent locator on rma.usda.gov for more.
