WASHINGTON, D.C. - As the House prepares to consider the farm bill, a coalition of 50 commodity groups, lending organizations, and other agricultural stakeholders led by the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau sent a letter expressing support for crop insurance and opposition to amendments that will limit its effectiveness. Click here to read the letter.

The Farm Bill approved by the House Agriculture Committee strengthens and enhances crop insurance protection.  The letter urges Congress to reject amendments that discourage producer participation or undermine private sector delivery. The message is signed by a diverse group of national and regional trade associations representing farmers, ranchers, lenders, crop insurers and reinsurers, agents, input suppliers, agricultural processors, conservationists, and other agribusinesses.

"Crop insurance is a key reason that farmers have been able to return to the fields and continue producing food, fiber, feed and fuel this year ." CIRB Executive Vice President Michael Torrey said. "Actions that reduce participation in crop insurance are out of touch with the realities of modern-day farming and would pave the way for the return to inefficient and costly taxpayer-funded ad hoc disaster bills."

Farm bill amendments to make crop insurance protection unaffordable would cause producers to reduce their program participation, resulting in greater financial disruption in agriculture, increased government costs, a higher risk pool of insured producers, and increased premium rates. Further cuts to crop insurance delivery threaten the private sector's ability to service producers, especially those in high risk states.  These harmful outcomes would ultimately undermine farmers, consumers, and the American economy.

CIRB will continue to actively work to ensure that the crop insurance and reinsurance community's voice is heard in D.C.  To learn more about the letter, please contact cirbnews@cropinsurance.org.