The Federal crop insurance program comprises a set of risk management tools on which farmers depend in overcoming things like catastrophic weather and market disruptions. The program continues to evolve and accurately reflect the risks farmers face, and the growing adoption of conservation practices is a new variable considered in continuing to evolve the program to meet farmers’ needs, Chief Actuary at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency Dr. Thomas Worth said recently. Federal crop insurance uses each producer’s actual production history to document year-to-year practices to improve the performance of his or her acres, and as such, “naturally incentivizes farmers to adopt best practices” to maintain the healthy productivity of every acre over time. Worth added crop insurance will continue its strong role in providing a critical farm safety net for producers as they adopt new conservation practices in the near future. “Crop insurance provides the kind of financial stability that will enhance the ability of farmers to think long-term, and to make the investments needed to adapt and be more resilient,” Worth said recently. See more.