The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (Farm Bill) included provisions to improve the effectiveness of WFRP. Per the Farm Bill, RMA has continued to solicit stakeholder recommendations. In response to stakeholder feedback from organic groups, aquaculture producers, and small, highly diversified producers, RMA recommended changes to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Board of Directors (FCIC Board). In addition, RMA worked with stakeholders to identify other improvements to WFRP not related to the Farm Bill.

On August 25, 2021, the FCIC Board approved the following changes to the WFRP plan of insurance, applicable for the 2022 and succeeding policy years:

• Increase the expansion limits for organic producers to the higher of $500,000 or 35 percent from the current limit of 35 percent for all operations;
• Increase the limit of insurance for aquaculture producers to $8.5 million, allowing more aquaculture producers to participate in the program;
• Allow producers to report acreage as certified organic when the producers have requested an organic certification by the date the Revised Farm Operation Report is due; and
• Provide flexibility to report a partial yield history for producers lacking records by inserting a zero yield for missing years.

The Whole-Farm Revenue Protection Pilot Policy (22-0076) will be available by close of business today on the RMA website at www.rma.usda.gov.

The WFRP Pilot Handbook will be released in September 2021.

Approved insurance providers must notify policyholders of these changes at least 30 days prior to the cancellation date, as required by the policy.

Interested producers should contact a crop insurance agent for further information. A list of agents can be found on the RMA website at www.rma.usda.gov/en/Information-Tools/Agent-Locator-Page.

DISPOSAL DATE:
December 31, 2021