NCC Commends RMA For Timely Implementation of STAX For Cotton

By T. Cotton Nelson

The National Cotton Council today commended USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA) after RMA announced that the Stacked Income Protection Plan (STAX) NCC Chairman Wally Darneille said, "We appreciate RMA's timely implementation of STAX and for making it available for upland cotton in all counties where federal crop insurance coverage for upland cotton is currently offered.

This will provide our nation's cotton farmers with a solid risk management mechanism so they can continue producing safe, abundant, and affordable food and fiber."

In its announcement today, USDA said it wanted to make as much information available now to assist with farmers' risk management planning. It said STAX is one of several new risk management options created by the 2014 farm law that will help protect farmers from events beyond their control such as weather disasters.

USDA's announcement also noted that STAX is an area-based revenue policy that may be purchased on its own, or in conjunction with another companion upland cotton crop insurance policy. As a general matter, STAX may begin paying when revenue drops below 90 percent of the expected revenue for the area and a full indemnity may be payable when area revenue falls below 70 percent of the expected level.