Ag Policy Blog

Citing continuing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, USDA said Tuesday it is extending program flexibilities to crop insurance companies -- Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs) -- and agricultural producers until June 30 or later.

These flexibilities were scheduled to expire this month.

"Our priority is to keep our producers and partners as safe as possible, while at the same time continuing to provide the best service we can," said Marcia Bunger, administrator of USDA's Risk Management Agency. "These unique times call for everyone to be cautious and as flexible as possible, and these added flexibilities will help us achieve those goals."

Extended flexibilities include:

- Allowing notifications to be sent electronically, including policy-related information over the phone or other electronic methods to select policy elections by sales closing, acreage reporting and production reporting dates, including options, endorsements and their forms. Producers may sign electronically or within 60 calendar days.

- Allowing producers to submit a request for a written agreement after the sales closing date.

Allowing producers with inability to physically sign a written agreement because of COVID-19 to do so after the expiration date.

- Providing additional time for AIPs to accept Regional Office Determined Yield, Master Yield, and Irrigated Determined Yield requests for Category B (annual) crops.

- Allowing AIPs to request a 30-day extension to submit Determined Yield requests for Category C (perennial) crops.

- Waiving the witness signature requirement for approval of Assignments of Indemnity.

USDA Risk Management Agency -- Managers Bulleting: COVID-19 Relief

https://www.rma.usda.gov/…

FAQ: COVID-19 Response: https://rma.usda.gov/…

House Dems to Create Ag Climate Task Force

The House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, a group of Democratic lawmakers, announced Wednesday it will formally launch three task forces focused on tackling key aspects of the climate crisis including agriculture, The Washington Post reported.

Coalition Vice Chair Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, and Rep. Kim Schrier, D-Wash., will co-chair the Climate and Agriculture Task Force, which will aim to ensure that the next farm bill empowers farmers to address the climate crisis.

"While leadership ultimately controls the party's agenda, the move signals that rank-and-file members are looking for creative ways to advance climate legislation, regardless of the fate of Build Back Better and its $555 billion in climate spending," the Post noted.

- The Washington Post -- House Democrats to launch three climate task forces

https://www.washingtonpost.com/…

Jerry Hagstrom can be reached at jhagstrom@nationaljournal.com

Follow him on Twitter @hagstromreport

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