Public Comments Deadline for Potential Changes to Prevented Plant Coverage Extended to October 12

The USDA extended the public comment period for potential changes to prevented plant coverage. According to USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) Administrator Marcia Bunger, the agency wanted to give farmers more time to add their thoughts after a busy summer. The extension comes after the original comment period ended on September 1.

The Request for Information from the USDA is asking for comments on a number of issues regarding prevented planting, including:

• Harvest price option, or whether prevented planting payments be calculated based on whichever is higher between project price or harvest prices.
• Experiences with the 1-in-4 rule, which dictates a producer must have planted, insured and harvested a crop in at least one of the previous four crop years to be eligible for coverage.
• 10 percent additional coverage, a currently unavailable option where producers could buy-up prevented planting coverage by 10 percent. RMA is interested in whether producers want the option reinstated.
• Contract price, which will explore whether coverage for contracted crops is more costly and ideas on calculating prevented planting payments for contract crops.

Comments on general topics are welcome, as well. Learn more about the request and how to submit comments here.