Background

This bulletin establishes the 2020 crop year Prune Reference Date. In addition, it provides Approved Insurance Providers with the average dry prune count per pound for calculating second-period immature prune appraisals.

Each year the Davis Regional Office (DRO) establishes the Prune Reference Date. This date occurs one to two weeks after prune pit tip hardening when 80 to 90 percent of the seed shows the presence of endosperm, a clear jelly-like substance at the bloom end of the seed.

Background

The Department of Agriculture (USDA), Risk Management Agency (RMA) is required annually, in accordance with Appendix C of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular No. A-123, Requirements for Effective Estimation and Remediation of Improper Payments dated October 20, 2014, to estimate and report an improper payment rate using a statistically selected, statistically valid sample of policies for the Federal crop insurance program.

The agency is now initiating its review of policies for the 2021 reporting period.

Background

Many state and local governments have issued “stay at home” orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic or, in the absence of “stay at home” orders, producers may otherwise be unable to meet certain policy requirements due to concerns of spreading COVID-19.

As of May 01, 2020 the following information is now available on the FTP site:

• 2018 Actuarial Data Master for the 8/31 Filing Date, YTD, and Daily Files.
• 2019 Actuarial Data Master for the 6/30, 8/31, 10/31, 11/30 Filing Date, YTD, and Daily Files.
• 2020 Actuarial Data Master for the 1/31 Filing Date, YTD, and Daily Files.

Users can find this information in the following directories:

In accordance with Section 15 of the ARPI Crop Provisions and Section 10 of the SCO Endorsement, approved final county yields for the 2019 crop year will be available by close of business today in the following formats:

Background

In conjunction with the regulatory changes announced under Product Management Bulletin, PM-20-029, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation has expanded the number of counties where forage seeding is insurable for the 2021 crop year having an April 30 contract change date. The following attachment, 2021 Expansion of Existing Crop Programs, lists the expansion by crop, state, and county for this permanent (non-pilot) program.

Action

Approved Insurance Providers should advise producers of the expanded county crop program for the 2021 crop year. 

As of April 30

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) amended the Forage Seeding Crop Provisions and Forage Production Crop Provisions for the 2021 and succeeding crop years with the following changes:

Forage Seeding

Background

The Risk Management Agency (RMA) has received several questions about the Wildfire Hurricane Indemnity Program (WHIP) and Wildfire Hurricane Indemnity Program+ (WHIP+) administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). Specifically, RMA has been asked if the Occurrence Loss Option (OLO) available under the Nursery Value Select (NVS) pilot program can be used to meet linkage requirements under WHIP and WHIP+.

Background

In accordance with the Special Provisions, Price B will be established by adding premiums and/or discounts associated with the predominant cotton quality characteristics, as determined by the Farm Service Agency, to the Upland and ELS Cotton National Average Loan Rates. The predominant quality characteristics of cotton in each state are determined from the most recent three years of Agricultural Marketing Service cotton classing data.