Crop Insurance Today Second Quarter 2023 - 36

" The safety net provided by crop insurance is
vital to maintaining the agriculture industry in
this country, especially in the face of increasingly
unpredictable disasters like drought, flood, and
extreme weather, " Maxwell said. " It's a really, really
important risk tool that we have...and we're really
grateful for it and the fact that it is protected
by our Farm Bill. " She recalled watching her aunt
and uncle almost lose their Missouri farm in the
1980s because they did not have crop insurance.
Thankfully, their farm survived, and today, they
also rely on crop insurance.
Jake Isley, a sixth-generation farmer and soybean
grower at Stewardship Farms, stressed to
the committee that crop insurance must remain
affordable in the 2023 Farm Bill.
" Our risk management program on which
soybean farmers and our lenders rely on heavily
is crop insurance. We must continue to have an
affordable crop insurance program. With input
costs higher in every area of my operation, I
cannot afford to have the crop insurance premium
subsidy reduced in this next Farm Bill, "
Isley said.
Crop insurance supports the entire rural
economy by providing a strong and secure farm
safety net, and quickly delivering aid to farmers
when they need it. The message to Congress was
loud and clear: to best serve America's farmer
and ranchers, crop insurance must be protected
and strengthened in the next Farm Bill.
Commodity leaders from across the country, representing tens
of thousands of farmers growing a diverse range of crops, praised
the crop insurance program. Here's what they had to say:
* " ASA must share for the record the high importance of crop insurance to soybean
farmers. Soybean farmers consistently communicate that this is the most effective
component of the farm safety net when viewed more broadly... Crop insurance must
remain affordable for producers. " - Brad Doyle, American Soybean Association
* " Last year, I didn't harvest a third of my farm. And so, I had to utilize the safety net
of crop insurance, and it was there, and I'd have to say, it's kept the family farm in
business. " - Nicole Berg, National Association of Wheat Growers
* " We know that agricultural markets are cyclical, and an effective safety net is
imperative for the inevitable times of low prices. The combination of commodity
program options and crop insurance gives farmers as well as their lenders the
confidence entering planting season knowing that downside risk is mitigated in
periods of steep price decline or a significant loss of production. " - Jaclyn Ford,
National Cotton Council
* " Crop insurance is number one. It is our number one best risk-management tool, and
we need to continue with that. It is a vital piece. " - Chris Edgington, National Corn
Growers Association
* " As we are seeing continuous erratic weather patterns-longer and more extreme
droughts in some regions and more frequent flooding in other areas-the farm
safety net and robust crop insurance program that helps farmers adequately
mitigate risk and volatility becomes vital to the sustainability and continuation of
family farms. " - Verity Ulibarri, National Sorghum Producers
In addition to listening to farmer perspectives, representatives from USDA, agent groups,
Approved Insurance Providers, and others also spoke to the importance of crop insurance.
* " Crop insurance remains a critical-a vital-risk management tool for our producers. RMA is expanding coverage to more
crops and producers than ever before. " - The Honorable Robert Bonnie, Under Secretary for Farm Production and
Conservation
* " Crop insurance is one of the best tools available to farmers to protect against Mother Nature because crop insurance is a
rapid response solution to disasters. " - Bob Haney, Executive Chairman of Agri-Sompo North America
* " Crop insurance is the premier risk management tool for the American farmer, and it works. " - James Korin, President, NAU
Country Insurance
* " [Crop insurance] is a critical tool for farmers as they adapt to the changing climate pressures. Weakening the program in an
way will do more harm to farmers coping with climate. " - James Meador, President, Rural Community Insurance Services
* " Crop insurance does more than just cover losses, it enables the producer to secure credit, to better market their crops, and
to make the needed investments to improve their farm and ranch and build their soils. " - Kathy Fowler, independent crop
insurance agent, Crop Insurance Professionals Association
* " Crop insurance today is a critical part of the agricultural safety net. It's relied on by farmers, by lenders, and by rural
businesses in every part of the country. No USDA program reaches more farmers, and more crops, and more counties than
crop insurance. " - Alex Offerdahl, Watts and Associates, Inc.
36 SECONDQUARTER2023

Crop Insurance Today Second Quarter 2023

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