The USDA’s Risk Management Agency is considering changes to existing sugarbeet insurance policy regulations to better meet the risk management needs of growers.
The agency, through contractors, is reaching out to stakeholders for their input in early 2016. The most recent revision to the sugarbeet crop policy was in 1998 for the 1999 and succeeding crop years.
RMA’s involvement with stakeholders seeks to identify changes that can be made to improve federal crop insurance as part of the farm safety net. RMA Administrator Brandon Willis emphasized the importance of listening to, and gathering feedback from, producers who purchase crop insurance. Consistent review of crop insurance programs helps ensure those most at risk have policies that are available where they are farming and work for their operation.
Producers’ needs shift over time, and RMA officials listen to those who share their stories and concerns to improve policies so that they better meet the needs of those who purchase them. RMA’s regional office staff in Billings, Mont., Spokane, Wash., and St. Paul, Minn., collaborated with several sugarbeet producers, grower groups and industry partners in recent crop years to work toward achieving this goal.
In late 2015, RMA issued a solicitation for bids from contractors to conduct an evaluation of the current sugarbeet program. RMA reviewed the technical proposals submitted, then awarded the contract for the evaluation to Watts and Associates in Billings.
Watts and Associates will be conducting outreach to collect sugarbeet grower, grower group and crop insurance industry comments in early 2016. It will then provide RMA with the recommended improvements. The areas where they will conduct outreach include Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These states are served through RMA’s Billings, Spokane and St. Paul regions.
RMA continually works to review its programs and identify ways to innovate them to mitigate evolving agricultural risk. By listening, learning, and testing new or expanded insurance options, RMA continues to ensure that a critical safety net for modern agriculture—federal crop insurance—is available for the greatest number of growers and ranchers.
Producers and interested parties can submit comments and suggestions for improvement directly to the Watts and Associates’ point of contact, Richard Allen, at 406-252-7776 or email rallen@wattsandassociates.com.