Background

The STAX policy was developed at a time when producers could not enroll seed cotton in the Agriculture Risk Protection (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). In February of 2018, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 was signed into law, which included provisions to allow producers of seed cotton to participate in ARC and PLC. In addition, the provisions included modifications to the Federal Crop Insurance Act (Act) stating that acreage enrolled in these programs would be ineligible for coverage under STAX.

Background

The Risk Management Agency (RMA) has revised the Hybrid Seed Rice crop insurance program for the 2019 crop year to improve clarity with respect to the program’s processes and procedures. Primary changes include streamlining of language for clarity and consistency and addition of process illustrations in handbook exhibits.

Background

The Risk Management Agency (RMA) has revised the Sugar Beet Crop Provisions to incorporate changes made in the Final Rule published in the Federal Register on September 10, 2018. The Sugar Beet Crop Provisions (19-039) are effective for the 2019 and succeeding crop years in states with a November 30 contract change date and for the 2020 and succeeding crop years in all other states. The intended effect of the changes is to update the policy to better reflect current agricultural practices.

Background

The Risk Management Agency (RMA) has received requests from the American Sesame Growers Association to expand the Sesame Pilot Program. On November 15, 2018, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Board of Directors approved expansion of the Sesame Pilot Program to 36 counties and approved expansion by written agreement to 252 counties in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas for 2019 and succeeding crop years.

The expansion was approved for the following counties:

Background

White and Waxy Specialty Corn is a privately developed product that was approved under section 508(h) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Board of Directors on August 15, 2018.

White and Waxy Specialty Corn insurance allows policyholders to insure their specialty type corn at a more favorable contract price if grown under contract in specific counties. This program is available for both Yield Protection and Revenue Protection plans of insurance.

As of November 27, 2018 the following information is now available on the FTP site:

• 2019 Actuarial Data Master for the 6/30, 11/30, 12/31 Filing Date, YTD, and Daily Files.
• 2019 Special Provisions for the 11/30 Filing Date.

Users can find this information in the following directories:

• 2019 Actuarial Data Master are in the References/Actuarial_Data_Master/2019 directory.
• 2019 Special Provisions are in the Special_Provisions/2019 directory.

Additional notes and details regarding this data release:

Background

The High-Risk Alternative Coverage Endorsement (HR-ACE) allows policyholders to insure high-risk acres at a coverage level that is lower than the coverage level on their non-high-risk acres (as an optional endorsement to a Federally reinsured corn, soybean, wheat, or grain sorghum crop provisions).

Background

The Risk Management Agency (RMA) revised the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) plan of insurance for the 2019 and subsequent policy years. RMA consulted with stakeholders and based on their feedback, made the following modifications and clarifications to the WFRP policy:

Commodity Code Consolidation

BACKGROUND:

Organic Rice Factor

The Risk Management Agency (RMA) offers distinct organic practice rice prices for many plans of insurance. The definitions and specifications for the rice organic practice prices are provided in the ‘Commodity Exchange Price Provisions (CEPP) Section II: Rice’ document. The following 2019 CY organic practice price factor will be applied to conventional practice rice prices, as determined in accordance with the CEPP, to derive the organic practice rice prices:

As of November 15, 2018 the following information is now available on the FTP site:

• 2019 Actuarial Data Master for the 11/30, 12/31 Filing Date, YTD, and Daily Files.
• 2019 Special Provisions for the 11/30, 12/31 Filing Date.

Users can find this information in the following directories:

• 2019 Actuarial Data Master are in the References/Actuarial_Data_Master/2019 directory.
• 2019 Special Provisions are in the Special_Provisions/2019 directory.

Additional notes and details regarding this data release: