Crop insurance has earned the trust of America’s farmers, and lastThursday, it earned the praise of the Senate Agriculture Committee. A bipartisan group of senators commended the program during a Farm Bill hearing, citing its importance in the face of rising challenges on America’s farms.

The Honorable Robert Bonnie, Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, and Administrator Marcia Bunger, Risk Management Agency (RMA), testified on crop insurance on behalf of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). They echoed the need for a strong farm safety net.

“Crop insurance remains a critical – a vital – risk management tool for our producers. RMA is expanding coverage to more crops and producers than ever before,” Bonnie said.

Several senators noted the need to strengthen and expand crop insurance to better serve more farmers, such as specialty crop producers. The crop insurance industry is committed to working with Congress to ensure that all farmers have the tools they need to manage the highly specialized risks of farming and protect the security of the U.S. food supply.

Read more on the Senate’s backing of crop insurance here.