Episode 266. The Hopes and Challenges of Crop Insurance

In this episode of Voices from the Field, northern Montana organic farmer Doug Crabtree and NCAT Agriculture and Natural Resource Economist Jeff Schahczenski talk about one of their favorite topics — crop insurance.

They discuss the hope for a reform of Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) and about the particular challenges of crop insurance for a large, highly diverse sustainable production system like Doug’s operation, Vilicus Farms.

Doug has used WFRP for years, and WFRP had the potential to provide protection for the 20-plus field crops he grows on almost 12,000 acres. But his policy was declined by his crop insurance company because he didn’t provide what he says is an “onerous” amount of documentation.

Related ATTRA Resources:

• Crop Insurance and Risk Management
• Crop Insurance Options for Specialty, Diversified, and Organic Farmers
• Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program and Whole-Farm Revenue Protection: Understanding the Differences

 

Other Resources:

• Vilicus Farms

Contact Jeff Schahczenski via email at jeffs@ncat.org

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