USDA has announced that Whole Farm Revenue Protection Crop Insurance policies are now available in most of the country. The policy allows producers to insure between 50 to 85 percent by insuring a variety of crops at once instead of one commodity at a time. It includes specialty or organic commodities. South Dakota organic farmer Charlie Johnson who farms near Madison says he’s not against this new provision but isn’t a fan of federal crop insurance.
Johnson says most organic producers prefer to be self-sufficient rather than depend on the government for help.
Johnson says organic farmers generally use wider rotations with multiple crops. He says American agriculture needs to get back to a more market oriented approach.