USDA’s Risk Management Agency is updating portions of the Federal Crop Insurance Program for 2020. Included is an expansion of safety net options and flexibility for producers. Starting in 2020, those covered under the Whole Farm Revenue Protection Program and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Program will be able to receive indemnity payments under both policies. Tom Nuessmeier, Policy Program Organizer for the Minnesota Land Stewardship Project says that’s positive.

He says having flexible solid risk management tools for farmers who’ve diversified their operation is a good step forward.

Nuessmeier says his group would like to see an overhaul of federal crop insurance to target payments to those directly engaged in farming.

However, Nuessmeier says they are encouraged with the changes the Risk Management Agency has made to crop insurance for 2020.