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 Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index (HIP-WI), Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO), Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO), Stacked Income Protection Plan (STAX), and Margin Protection Plan (MP) can be used to meet linkage requirements under WHIP and WHIP+.

Crop insurance policies reinsured by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, including Whole-Farm Revenue Protection and written agreements, will meet the linkage requirement if the coverage level is at least 60/100 or equivalent. In addition, if a producer purchases HIP-WI, SCO, ECO, STAX or MP, the coverage will count towards meeting the WHIP and WHIP+ linkage requirement, provided the coverage or combination of coverages purchased meets or exceeds the 60/100 coverage level and they adhere to all other requirements of these programs. This is in addition to the Occurrence Loss Option (OLO) as referenced in OA-20-001.

Producers should contact their local service center (www.farmers.gov) for questions regarding WHIP and WHIP+ and their local crop insurance agent for questions regarding crop insurance coverage options (www.rma.usda.gov/Information-Tools/Agent-Locator-Page).

DISPOSAL DATE:
Until modified or rescinded