JACKSON, Miss., Nov. 30, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) today announced an expansion of Hybrid Seed Rice (HSR) crop insurance coverage and improvements to the Sweet Potato crop insurance policy.

“This expansion of hybrid seed rice crop insurance will open up the plan to more producers in our region,” said Roddric Bell, Director of RMA’s regional office in Jackson. “The improvements made to the sweet potato crop insurance coverage will provide a more efficient and beneficial policy for producers. Producers interested in these insurance policies should contact their local crop insurance agent to take advantage of these changes.”

HSR crop insurance coverage now gives producers in certain counties and parishes in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Texas the option of obtaining crop insurance through a written agreement starting with the 2021 crop year.

The Sweet Potato crop insurance policy has been updated with detailed changes below:

• Eliminates processing (a.k.a. “canner”) type coverage, reducing premiums
• Allows separate basic units by share in addition to fresh and dedicated processing types
• Simplifies pre-harvest representative sample requirements
• Replaces bin storage certification with requirement to allow facility inspection and bin storage, reducing paperwork and preventing missing paperwork from voiding coverage

RMA is authorizing additional flexibilities due to coronavirus while continuing to support producers, working through Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs) to deliver services, including processing policies, claims and agreements. RMA staff are working with AIPs and other customers by phone, mail and electronically to continue supporting crop insurance coverage for producers. Farmers with crop insurance questions or needs should continue to contact their insurance agents about conducting business remotely (by telephone or email). More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.

Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private insurance agents. A list of insurance agents is available online using the RMA Agent Locator. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at rma.usda.gov.

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