USDA offers protections for non- insured crops against weather losses

Dear Editor or Editorial Board:
In agriculture, opportunity is often created from overcoming challenges. So when I hear people say “work for the best and prepare for the worst,” it is the American farmers and ranchers who come to mind because they characterize the optimism and resilience of the very concept, especially when it comes to overcoming severe weather.
And although many farmers and ranchers carry insurance on their crops and livestock, insurance isn’t always available for everything that can be grown or produced.  For example, with many specialty crops, like vegetables and fruits, or floriculture, nursery, or livestock forage, private insurance for losses from weather damage may not be available.  
That’s why the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers help to producers through the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), which provides financial assistance to producers of noninsurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory, or prevented plantings occur due to natural disasters.
NAP has existed for 21 years; for the majority of that time, it provided only catastrophic coverage for losses of more than 50 percent of expected production. That catastrophic coverage – still available – pays 55 percent of the average market price.

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