2001 News Archive

• Crime Means Time -- December 27 -- A North Texas man and his wife, a crop insurance agent, are going to prison and paying fines and restitution for filing fictitious crop insurance claims and related charges.
  Related item: Press release (PDF file)
• FY 2002 Funding Increased -- December 4 -- President Bush signed H.R. 2330 into law, increasing RMA funding to $74.752 million to help cover implementation of the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000.
• USDA Announces $4.8 Million in Grants -- December 4 -- Competitive grants to provide risk management education were awarded by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service using funds from RMA.
• RMA Recovers $60K -- December 4 -- Insurance agent and farmer George A. Jedwski, Jr. agreed to pay $60,000 in a settlement agreement to avoid court proceedings in a crop insurance fraud investigation.

• More Dairy Options Training Available -- November 23 -- RMA announced that 25 more counties are now eligible for training and cost-share under the Dairy Options Pilot Program (DOPP). The total number of counties where training is available is now 300.
• USDA Approves New Livestock Insurance Plans -- November 21 -- Beginning this spring, swine producers in Iowa will have the opportunity to protect their hog prices. LGM | LRP
• Congress Approves FY2002 Funding -- November 21 -- Both houses of Congress approved higher levels of funding for RMA in FY 2002. The bill must now be approved by the President. HTML version | PDF file
• Board Approves New Hybrid Seed Price Endorsement -- November 21 -- The FCIC approved a pilot Hybrid Seed Price Endorsement for Corn crop insurance policy in eight Midwestern states beginning in the 2002 crop year. The yield-based protection will employ price elections derived from the Chicago Board of Trade in determining level of insurance coverage for hybrid seed corn.
• Trail Blazing -- November 9 -- The new alliance between the Risk Management Agency and the Farm Service Agency is increasing program oversight. Nolan County, Texas, got a head start on the cooperative effort and the results are impressive.
• USDA Awards $20 Million To Promote Risk Management Tools and Training -- November 8 -- The Agricultural Risk Protection Act (ARPA) is funding the development of new crop insurance products and risk management education.
• RMA Clarifies Certain Milk Trading Practices -- November 7 -- USDA's Risk Management Agency has alerted approved brokers and others under the Dairy Options Pilot Program that certain milk option trading practices are not permitted and may violate Federal commodity laws and rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

• Drought--Good Farming Practices Still Required -- October 30 -- Due to continuing drought in parts of the Western U.S., RMA is reminding companies, agents, and producers of policy and procedure on the planting and care of fall seeded acreage. (PDF file)
  
• Sales Closing Date Nears -- October 22 -- October 31 is the last chance for many producers to sign up for or change their crop insurance coverage.
• AGR Cost Share Announced -- October 18 -- Eligible producers in 11 Eastern states can benefit from a 50-percent cost share for AGR insurance. The sales closing date is January 31, 2002. (PDF file)
  Related item: AGR fact sheet (PDF file)
• Company Oversight Increases -- October 17 -- As part of a recent claims settlement, Great American agreed to a plan that will help them to better recognize and deter fraud and abuse.
• Revenue Policy Comparison -- October 1 -- Although you'll still need an agent to explain the differences, our 1-page comparison of revenue insurance policies will help start the discussion. (PDF file)

September 2001

• Quietly Effective
-- September 27 -- The new alliance between the Risk Management Agency and the Farm Service Agency taps into the expertise and knowledge of skilled local professionals who help keep concerns from turning into problems. For insights into how the new process is working, check out these recent dispatches from the field.
• Initial Wheat Price Elections Up
-- September 27 -- Base prices used to establish coverage under revenue plans of insurance are up from last year. These prices, based on exchange contracts, are used to establish the revenue guarantees under revenue crop policies and guarantee a certain level of insurance protection if losses occur.
• Risk Management for the New Century
-- September 20 -- Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman outlined the Administration's desire to provide a market oriented economic safety net for farmers. Risk management is a key element of the policy mix. Chapter 3, beginning page 7
Related item: Entire report
• Interim Final Rule Published
-- September 19 -- To better meet the risk management needs of farmers, RMA published a regulation that provides incentives for the development of new insurance products. The rule is effective September 17, 2001, while comments may still be received up to November 16, 2001.
• Oct. 1 Sales Closing Date
-- September 10 -- October 1 is the last chance for many producers to sign up for or change their crop insurance protection.
• Agents Make a Difference
-- September 10 -- Producer acceptance of the AGR pilot is varied. We suspected that where it was working we'd find an exceptional agent. We were right.
• Harvest Time Price Elections Announced for Revenue Insurance Plans
-- September 10 -- Harvest and Fall harvest prices are an important component under various revenue plans of insurance. Check out the recent price announcements for various crops,and areas of the country.
Related item: R&D; bulletin
• Top Ten for CY 2001
-- September 5 -- Corn and soybeans vie for most insured crop, while Iowa leads all states in insured acreage and liability.

August 2001

• "Additional" Price Elections Announced
-- August 31 -- With fall sales closing dates fast approaching, 2002 additional price elections for wheat, feed barley, oats, and rye were announced. (PDF file)

• FCIC Board Meeting Announced -- August 31
-- The FCIC Board of Directors will meet September 19, 2001, in Washington, DC. Topics under consideration are a pilot nutrient management plan, modifications to the Crop Revenue Coverage plan and a new hybrid seed price endorsement. (PDF files)
Related item: Agenda
• Unabridged Crop Insurance -- August 30 -- If you've ever wanted to read crop insurance law in its entirety, we've got what you want. (PDF file)
  
• Claims Alert -- TX, NM, OK -- August 27 --
Acreage planted to cotton on which producers have continued to graze the small grain acreage after the heading stage should be determined to be not insurable.

• Details Matter -- August 23 --
How to determine drought as a cause of loss for prevented planting.

• Board Meeting Announced -- August 17 -- The FCIC Board meets on August 22, 2001, to discuss the Livestock Risk Protection and Livestock Gross Margin Insurance pilots.
  PDF file
• Safety Net Grows -- August 17 -- Each year more producers can sleep better at night knowing their crop insurance coverage will protect their crop yields and, in many cases, revenue.
  Related item: Cotton, Wheat Growers Big on Revenue Products
• Judges Rule -- August 17 -- Recently, USDA's Board of Contract Appeals affirmed the following principals.
  
• RA Changes Approved -- August 17 -- The FCIC Board approved higher coverage levels for optional and basic units for Revenue Assurance policies where this coverage is allowed under Multiple Peril Crop Insurance.  Other policy modifications were also enacted.
  

July 2001

• FCIC Acts on Organics, CRC -- July 24 -- The FCIC Board made organic coverage more widely available and approved changes to the CRC plan of insurance.
  
• FCIC, Connecticut Sign Cooperative Agreement -- July 12 -- Secretary Veneman commended Commissioner Ferris and the Connecticut Department of Agriculture for their leadership in risk management and their work with USDA to benefit Connecticut farmers.
  
• Top 10 Products for 2001 -- July 9 -- As of June, Sunflower policy sales showed the largest percentage gain (12 percent), while Adjusted Gross Revenue sales have increased sixfold.
  

June 2001

• Satellite Photos Prove Fraud -- June 29 -- Using infrared satellite photos from 1993 to strengthen their case, investigators from RMA's Southern Regional Compliance Office, USDA's OIG Southwest Regional Office, and the FBI's Western Memphis office provided evidence of fraud against Arkansas family members.
• FCIC Announces Forage Seed, Barley Programs -- June 28 -- The FCIC signed off on a pilot forage seed program and malting barley price and quality endorsement for the Income Protection barley pilot.
• Under Secretary Penn To Speak -- June 26 -- Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services J.B. Penn will be the keynote speaker at the Survival Strategies Conference for small and limited resource farmers.
• RMA Seeking Input -- June 20 -- RMA is seeking input from producers and producer groups before contracting for the research and possible development of a risk management program to compensate producers for their costs to replace damaged or destroyed trees, vines, and bushes.
• Board Meeting This Week -- June 11 -- The FCIC Board of Directors will meet in Washington, DC to review policies and options on forage seed and barley. Members will also discuss program changes that are subject to Board or expert review. Related item: Agenda
• Correction -- June 8 -- An earlier announcement posted at this site concerning John Keister was incorrect. The following is a corrected version of the story.
• Guilty -- June 8 -- Timothy Hurrle of St. Cloud, MN, recently pled guilty to submitting false claims on a 1995 dry bean crop. Hurrle and his mother also admitted to mail fraud charges. The plea agreement includes repayment of $100,330 to USDA; sentencing is forthcoming.
• Acreage Shifts to Revenue Policies -- June 1 -- New comparisons indicate that producers are buying higher levels of coverage.
  

May 2001

• New Tool Debut -- May 18 -- A new interactive summary of business format is now available. You can customize searches of participation data down to the county level. A one-time download is required to print.
• Livestock on the Agenda -- May 18 -- RMA is requesting input from livestock producers before contracting the development of risk management strategies for the livestock industry.
• Md Makes Crop Insurance More Affordable -- May 4 -- The state of Maryland recently funded a law that will reduce the cost of Federal crop insurance for its farmers.
• Wanted: Education Partners -- May 1 -- RMA is funding $4.8 million in risk management education grants in FY 2001. Proposals are due to the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service by June 1, 2001.

April 2001

• Crop Insurance: A USDA Funding Priority -- April 10 -- On April 9, 2001, the President transmitted his FY 2002 Budget to Congress. RMA's budget proposal of $74.8 million for administrative and operating expenses represents a 12-percent increase from the FY 2001 appropriation of $65.2 million. Most of the proposed increases will cover costs associated with implementation of the Agricultural Risk Protection Act.
• Berry Pilot Announced -- April 10 -- Beginning this fall, raspberry and blackberry growers in 7 counties in Washington (Clark, Cowlitz), California (Santa Cruz, Monterey) and Oregon (Clackamas, Marion, Multhomah) will be able to insure their production. The sales closing date is November 20, 2001.
• CRC Improves Comfort Zone for Oregon Grower -- April 2 -- Greg Goad of Umatilla County, Oregon, thinks of his farm as a business and price protection is a vital component of his risk management strategies. "I like being my own boss, but think of my farm business through a different filter than many farmers."

March 2001

• Farmers Buy Higher Level of Protection -- March 28 -- Early reports indicate that new incentives provided by ARPA are producing hoped for results.
• National Contest Essay Winners Announced -- March 16 -- In its fourth year, the RMA-sponsored FFA Risk Management Strategies Writing Contest attracted 257 agricultural students. The ten national winners and their advisors will visit Washington, DC, in late April.
  
• West Texas Adjuster Pleads Guilty -- March 16 -- Darren Jeffrey pled guilty to falsifying $700,000 worth of crop insurance claims. RMA's Southern Regional Compliance Office, USDA's OIG, and the N. Texas U.S. Attorney's Office collaborated on the investigation that led to the plea. Six Nolan County producers may also be implicated.
  
• Comments from Hawaii Requested -- March 16 -- RMA is requesting input from producer groups before entering into contracts for research and development to increase participation for Hawaiian Tropical Fruit and Tree Producers.
  (34kb PDF file)
• 2002 Budget Overview -- March 1 -- Crop insurance funding is identified as a priority in the proposed 2002 budget.
  
  Related link: White House's "A Blueprint For New Beginnings": USDA section

February 2001

• Sales Closing Dates Near -- February 27 -- Producers need to sign up now to take advantage of additional premium subsidies. February 28 and March 15 are the next deadlines.
  
• Flowers, Anyone? -- February 27 -- RMA is seeking input from producer groups before contracting for the research and development of a cut flower insurance program.
  
• More Prices Announced-- February 23 -- RMA announced the Crop Revenue Coverage (CRC) 2001 cotton base price for counties with February 28 and March 15 sales closing dates. Income Protection (IP) 2001 projected prices were also announced for corn, cotton, and soybeans for counties with a February 28 sales closing date.
  (34kb PDF file)
• The Envelope Please -- February 16 -- Four contractors have been selected to provide up to $20 million of research and development in 2001.
  

January 2001

• Agent Sentenced -- January 31 -- Sylvia Faye Greiner was sentenced to 33 months in prison for conspiracy to defraud the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation.
• Son of Sunflower -- January 24 -- Contrary to reports, RMA did not agree that unharvested sunflower adjustments could wait until farmers decide to harvest. Letters were sent to Senators Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan and to Representative Earl Pomeroy.
  
• "Additional" Price Elections -- January 23 -- 2001 commodity prices are now available for Actual Production History soybeans (21kb PDF file) Hybrid Corn Seed, Hybrid Sorghum Seed, Corn Silage, and Grain Sorghum.
  (18kb PDF file)
• Acting Administrator Named -- January 20 -- Phyllis Honor was named Acting RMA Administrator, effective January 20, 2001. Prior to her designation, she served as the Agency's Chief Financial Officer.
  
• Expansion Coverage Levels -- January 19 -- The 80 and 85 percent coverage levels are being added in certain counties for the 2001 crop year for corn, cotton, grain sorghum, and soybeans insured under the Actual Production History, Income Protection, and Indexed Income Protection plans of insurance.
  Related item: Maps & Spreadsheet (1.4 Mb .ZIP file | Help with .ZIP files)
  (18kb PDF file)
• RMA Launches Oversight Initiative -- January 18 -- RMA will spend $2.25 million in fiscal year 2001 to provide anti-fraud and loss adjustment training to about 2,500 county and state Farm Service Agency (FSA) personnel.
  
• Setting Research Priorities -- January 17 -- RMA is looking for advice from producer groups to help increase program participation.
  Related item: California
  
  
• Sales Closing Dates Near -- January 17 -- Eastern farmers need to sign up before January 31 to take advantage of the newly expanded Adjusted Gross Revenue plan. Additional premium subsidies for 2001 make protection affordable.
  Related links:
  Education initiative press release | Underserved farmers press release | AGR pilot expansion press release | Manager's bulletin | R&D; bulletin
  
  
• Response to North Dakota Sunflower Producers -- January 10 -- RMA administrator Kenneth Ackerman responds to inquiries on behalf of North Dakota sunflower producers regarding crop insurance procedure and policy. Letters were sent to Senators Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan and to Representative Earl Pomeroy.
  
  
• SRA Status -- January 8 -- With only one opportunity in the next 5 years to renegotiate the Standard Reinsurance Agreement (SRA), RMA will evaluate the effects of ARPA 2000 before negotiating a new agreement.
  
  
• CRC Base Prices Announced -- January 4 -- 2001 base prices were announced for corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, cotton and rice.