STATEMENT BY RMA ADMINISTATOR ROSS J. DAVIDSON
Sep 18, 2002
Upon signing Federal Register rule
General Administrative Regulations, Subpart T-Federal Crop Insurance Reform, Insurance Implementation, Regulations for the 1999 and Subsequent Reinsurance Years; Group Risk Plan of Insurance Regulations for the 2001 and Succeeding Crop Years; and the Common Crop Insurance Regulations, Basic Provisions

"Since my arrival in March, getting these revisions to the common policy out for farmers to review has been top priority. Because farmers and ranchers and their agents and insurers are in the best position to assess the proposal, I particularly invite their comments.

"Most of the proposed changes are based on requirements of the Agricultural Risk Protection Act (ARPA). ARPA took several years to develop, was the subject of numerous hearings, and has been in place since 2001. We believe that the proposed changes will be anticipated and make good common sense to most people.

"Nearly all the changes are designed to improve program integrity. Because of this unifying theme, we believe they will be well received by the vast majority of farmers and ranchers, agents, loss adjusters and insurers who work hard and play by the rules. We anticipate having a final rule published by early December so that we can give time for implementation of the provisions for the entire 2004 crop year. Some of the 2004 crop year filings begin in January of 2003."

Please send your comments on the proposed rule to: Director, Product Development Division, Risk Management Agency, United States Department of Agriculture, 6501 Beacon Drive, Stop 0812, Room 421, Kansas City, MO 64133-4676. Comments titled "Basic Provisions" may also be sent via email to: DirectorPDD@rma.usda.gov.

Related item: Regulation (PDF)