New Crop Insurance Option For Specialty Crop Growers And Diversified Farms

Jan 13, 2015

USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced the release of the Whol e - Farm Revenue Protection crop insurance program for the 2015 crop year. The policy allows producers to insure between 50 to 85 percent of their whole farm revenue and makes crop insurance more affordable for producers, including fruit and vegetable growers and organic farmers and ranchers.

Whole - farm revenue protection combi nes and enhances two popular and well - known plans of insurance, Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) and Adjusted Gross Revenue - Lite (AGR - Lite). Policy enhancements include an expanded range of coverage levels, coverage for replanting, provisions that increase cov erage for expanding operations, a higher maximum amount of coverage and the inclusion of market readiness costs in the coverage.

The W hole - Farm Revenue Protection program is designed to fit any farm with up to $8.5 million in insured revenue, including f arms with specialty or organic commodities (both crops and livestock). The policy allows these growers to insure a variety of crops at once instead of one commodity at a time. That gives them the option of embracing more crop diversity and helps support th e production of a wider variety of foods. Whole - farm revenue protection is available in 45 states, including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.

The whole - farm premium subsidy is available to farms with two or more commodities that meet minimum diversif ication requirements. Producers can purchase whole - farm revenue protection in conjunction with individual crop policies as long as those policies are at a buy - up coverage level.

More information, including availability of the product, can b e found on the RMA website at: http://www.rma.usda.gov/policies/wfrp.html . Sales closing date for the Whole - Farm Revenue Protection program is March 15, 2015 for the 2015 crop year. Interested producers and current policyholders are encouraged to visit with a crop insurance agent to learn how whole - farm revenue protection may fit within their farm’s risk management needs. Growers must make all of their decisions on crop insurance coverage on or before the sales closing date.

Source:usda.gov

Video: Winter Service Inspections for John Deere Equipment - The FarmCast Ep64

The FarmCast, host Troy Randall speaks with Doug Luedke, Vice President of Service, and Davin Peterson, Executive Vice President of Aftermarket at 21st Century Equipment, to discuss the importance of proactive service and how it helps farmers reduce downtime during their busiest seasons. The conversation focuses on the Winter Service Inspection Program, a comprehensive approach designed to keep equipment running at peak performance and limit costly in-season breakdowns through preventative maintenance and expert technician support.

Doug and Devin explain how 21st Century Equipment’s service teams have evolved to meet the needs of today’s connected machines. With more technology and data integrated into modern equipment, technicians now play a vital role in both mechanical repairs and precision ag support. Through advanced diagnostics, machine monitoring, and John Deere’s Expert Alerts, they can identify and address potential issues before they become major problems—saving customers valuable time, money, and frustration.

Throughout the discussion, the team shares real-world success stories demonstrating how proactive inspections and customer-focused service help maximize uptime and efficiency for every operation. Whether it’s a large tractor, combine, or small mower, the goal remains the same: to provide trusted, reliable support that helps farmers and landowners stay productive and confident in their equipment year-round.