The USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) is providing remote assistance and additional flexibilities for farmers and ranchers. The agency says this is in response to the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the nation.
“Crop insurance will continue to support farmers through the challenges ahead, and our RMA team is here to support them,” said Martin Barbre, RMA administrator in a recent press release. “We are with AIPs (Approved Insurance Providers) to continue to deliver crop insurance and to respond to farmer needs.”
Additional flexibilities include:
- Electronic notifications for required reports: Producers can send electronic reports for written agreement issues, acreage and production reporting and upcoming sales closing dates. Policyholder election may be provided over the phone with appropriate documentation of the call or by using e-signed forms, no later than July 15, 2020.
- Production reporting date extended: AIPs can accept production reports through the earlier of the acreage report date or 30 days after the production reporting date for crops insured under the Common Crop Insurance Policy Basic Provisions with a production reporting date of March 15, 2020, or later.
- Additional time provided and interest deferred on premium payments, written payment agreements: AIPs can give additional time for policyholders to make premium payments and administrative fee payments. Interest accrual will be waved an additional 60 days from the scheduled payment due date or the termination date on policies with premium billing dates between March 1 and April 30, 2020. AIPs can provide an additional 60 days for policyholders to make written payment agreements due between March 1 and April 30, 2020.
RMA says it staff are working with AIPs and other customers via phone, mail and electronically to continue to support crop insurance for farmers. If you have questions, the recommend reaching out to insurance agents remotely.
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Read original article: https://cattlemensharrison.com/usda-loosens-certain-crop-insurance-criteria/
By: Drovers