The Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation (NFBF) says the group is urging USDA to move swiftly in the implementation of a new crop insurance provision included in the 2014 Farm Bill.

The provision would help Nebraska farmers who’ve lost crops to widespread hail and tornados this spring and summer, while also aiding Nebraska farmers in future drought situations.

“It’s been a difficult year for many farmers in Nebraska and across the country. Prompt action by USDA to implement this new provision could be of tremendous benefit to those who’ve suffered crop losses inflicted by Mother Nature,” said Steve Nelson, Nebraska Farm Bureau president.In a July 15 letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, NFBF asked USDA to move promptly in implementing 2014 Farm Bill provisions that allow farmers to exclude any year from their Actual Production History (APH) if their yield in that year was less than 50 percent of the 10-year county average.

NFBF says APH reflects the 10-year rolling average of on-farm commodity yields and serves as the foundation for several crop insurance program provisions, including the determination of a farmer’s crop insurance premium and limitations on their level of crop coverage.

“This measure will help ease the pressure of climbing crop insurance premiums for farmers who’ve suffered catastrophic losses, and in some cases, experienced those losses in multiple years. It also gives them much needed flexibility in determining their level of crop insurance coverage for future years despite these catastrophic events,” said Nelson.

In the letter, NFBF acknowledged the challenge USDA faces in implementing the farm bill, but noted the need for farmers to be able to take advantage of this key farm bill provision.

“These measures will be very valuable to farmers hit hard by Mother Nature, many of which who have taken risk management steps to try and soften the blow of destructive weather conditions,” said Nelson.

Source - http://www.1011now.com/