Ag Policy Blog

The Agriculture Department’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) on Tuesday announced it has made changes to the Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) insurance program for feeder cattle, fed cattle and swine starting this summer with the 2021 crop year.

The changes include moving premium due dates to the end of the endorsement period and increasing premium subsidies.

“These changes will make these policies more usable and affordable for livestock producers,” RMA Administrator Martin Barbre said. “We are working to ensure these improvements can be implemented by July 1 so producers can take advantage of these changes.”

Specifically, the changes:

-Allow premiums to be paid at the end of the endorsement period, putting it in line with other policies.

-Increase the premium subsidy for coverage levels above 80%. Those with an 80% or higher coverage level will get a 5-percentage point subsidy increase.

-Producers may buy LRP insurance throughout the year from Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs), with coverage prices ranging from 70% to 100% of the expected ending value of their animals. At the end of the insurance period, if the actual ending value is below the coverage price, producers will be paid an indemnity for the difference.

Jerry Hagstrom can be reached at jhagstrom@nationaljournal.com

Follow him on Twitter @hagstromreport

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