Last week Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced USDA has expanded a crop insurance option to allow organic producers to purchase insurance coverage that better reflects their product’s actual value. Martin Kleinschmit is an organic farmer in the Hartington, Nebraska area. He’s pleased with the decision and says it will not only help those transitioning into the business, but also those already growing organic crops.
He says certified organic growers will also now be able to use the contract price addendum to cover their crops at higher prices than traditional crops. This will help those transitioning to organic farming and those already in production.
Kleinschmit says USDA making this change will jumpstart organic agriculture in the United States.
The Risk Management Agency also expanded organic premium price elections to 57 crops. That’s up from four in 2011. This provides organic producers the option to protect their 2016 crops closer to the market value.
