Ernst Improves Crop Insurance with FARMER Act
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) joined Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman (R-Ark.) in leading the FARMER Act. This legislation would improve the affordability and coverage of federal crop insurance by increasing premium support for the highest levels of coverage, shrinking producer deductibles, and ultimately reducing the need for ad hoc disaster assistance in the future.
Unlike Senate Democrats’ proposal, this bill does not require American producers to choose between enhanced crop insurance coverage and commodity support programs, allowing them to make decisions that work best for their operation.
“Time and time again, it’s become painfully obvious that our farmers need improved access to high coverage crop insurance plans that adequately cover all the challenges in a growing season,” said Senator Ernst. “To protect our ag community, I’m fighting to improve federal crop insurance and ensure that dollars in the Farm Bill actually go towards safeguarding our food and fields, not pie-in-the-sky climate change policies.”
“With record drought continuing and Iowa farmers feeling squeezed between lower commodity prices and high input costs, it’s imperative that farmers have access to affordable crop insurance as part of the next Farm Bill,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “Iowa is fortunate to have Senators Ernst and Grassley fighting on our behalf to ensure that the new Farm Bill has adequate and affordable risk management tools.”
“Enhancing crop insurance protection remains a top priority for Iowa farmers. We thank Sen. Ernst for her continued commitment to the state’s soybean farmers by supporting this legislation, and look forward to seeing this issue addressed before the U.S. Senate,” said Pat Swanson, Iowa Soybean Association board director and Ottumwa farmer.
"The FARMER Act is a crucial step towards ensuring the continued success and resilience of Iowa’s corn farmers and we can’t thank Senator Ernst enough for her co-sponsorship of this bill,” stated Jolene Riessen, Iowa Corn Growers Association President, and a farmer from Ida Grove. “By increasing premium support for the highest levels of revenue and yield coverage and enhancing the Supplemental Coverage Option, the bill addresses the affordability concerns of crop insurance, providing us as corn farmers with the necessary tools to protect our livelihoods.”
Read the legislation here.
Background:
Ernst is dedicated to putting more “farm” in the Farm Bill, including improving crop insurance affordability.
During the 2020 derecho, Ernst urged the United States Department of Agriculture to provide Iowa farmers with additional support and relief as crop insurance was unable to cover all of the total crop losses.
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