Crop insurance provides a safety net for farmers, protecting their operations from loss due to natural perils such as drought, frost, excess moisture, pest infestations, or disease.
While essential for many farmers, the rules regulating crop insurance have often been at odds with conservation practices. Thanks to recent changes by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency (RMA), the implementation of conservation practices supported by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will no longer impact crop insurance coverage.
To qualify for federal crop insurance, farmers must follow production methods designated as Good Farming Practices by RMA. These regulations, for example, don’t allow the use of farming methods that reduce yields. Use of those practices would result in the farmer forfeiting their ability to make a claim in the event of a loss.