December 2005

• USDA Launches Redesigned Risk Management Web Site (Dec 23, 2005) USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) has launched a new design for the agency’s Web site, aimed at streamlining access to crop and livestock insurance information.
• RMA Makes Progress Against Insurance Program Fraud and Abuse (Dec 23, 2005) In cooperation with the Department of Justice, RMA made significant headway during 2005 in the fight against fraud and abuse in the crop insurance program.
• Message from the Administrator (Dec 23, 2005) A message from RMA's new administrator, Eldon Gould.
• South Dakota Farmers Sentenced for Fraud (Dec 13, 2005) Rapid City, SD farmers David and Connie Finneman were sentenced to 37 months' imprisonment recently for over $1 million in fraud connected with the Federal crop insurance program. (PDF)
• Insurance Agent Sentenced in Federal Crop Insurance Fraud Scheme (Dec 8, 2005) Insurance agent George T. Kiser was sentenced to prison and restitution after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation. (PDF)

November 2005

• Callan Named RMA Associate Administrator (Nov 30, 2005) James Callan has been appointed Associate Administrator of the Risk Management Agency.
• Johanns Announces New RMA Administrator (Nov 18, 2005) Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced the appointment of Eldon Gould as administrator of USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA).
• Sentenced (Nov 18, 2005) RMA continues to make progress against fraud and abuse in the crop insurance program, with recent sentencings of North Carolina and Iowa producers and claims adjusters. Press releases (PDF): Carroll County father and son | North Carolina producer | Claims adjuster
• Ag Appropriations Bill Signed (Nov 17, 2005) The 2006 Agriculture Appropriations Bill, signed into law by President Bush on November 10, 2005, addresses several issues important to RMA.
• Quality Adjustment and Sampling/Grading Overview (Nov 1, 2005) (PDF) RMA has outlined quality adjustment procedures for crop insurance claims. Note: this file updated on July 21, 2006.

October 2005

• Loss Adjustment Procedures for Aflatoxin (Oct 24, 2005) RMA has provided information on loss adjustment procedures for aflatoxin. (PDF)
• We Need Your Input (Oct 13, 2005) The RMA Web team launched our new Google search engine in September. Even if you have taken our Web Satisfaction Survey before, please us know how the new search is working for you, by taking the survey again.
• RMA Acting Administrator Named (Oct 12, 2005) Effective October 12, 2005, James Callan is appointed Acting Administrator of the Risk Management Agency.
• October 31 Sales Closing Date Nears (Oct 11, 2005) RMA reminds producers that October 31, 2005, is the sales closing date for several fall planted crops in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah
• USDA Awards $25.05 Million in Partnership Agreements (Oct 7, 2005) Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced awards of $25.05 million in risk management partnership agreements. Related items: Commodity Partnerships | Small Sessions | Targeted States | Outreach | R&D
• Davidson to Serve as Senior Advisor on Energy Policy (Oct 7, 2005) Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced today that he has named Ross Davidson as a senior advisor on energy policy. Related item: Message
• Three Regional RMA Outreach Conferences in November (Oct 6, 2005) Success strategies for small and limited resource farmers and ranchers will be the subject at RMA conferences this fall.

September 2005

• Google Search Engine (Sep 30, 2005) The RMA Web team has successfully integrated USDA's Google search engine on the RMA public Web site. This update will offer more accurate search results to RMA's Web customers.
  
• Iowa Woman Sentenced in Compliance Fraud Case (Sep 9, 2005) Carroll County, Iowa, producer Sue Hoffman was barred from participation in all U.S. Department of Agriculture farm benefit and crop insurance programs after pleading guilty to compliance conspiracy. (PDF)
• North Carolina Farmers Sentenced in Crop Insurance Fraud Scheme (Sep 9, 2005) A U.S. District Judge sentenced Robert and Viki Warren of Candler, North Carolina to prison terms and restitution of funds following guilty pleas in a scheme to defraud the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and private insurance companies of more than $9 million. (PDF)
• September 30 Sales Closing Date Nears (Sep 1, 2005) RMA reminds producers that September 30, 2005, is the sales closing date for many fall-planted crops. Crops that may need to be insured by this date include alfalfa seed, barley, canola, cultivated wild rice, forage production, mint, nursery, oats, potatoes, rye, sugarcane, and wheat.
• Hurricane Information and Assistance (Sep 1, 2005) RMA's regional office in Jackson, MS, is closed due to Hurricane Katrina. Producers needing assistance in Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, or Tennessee may call the following numbers until the Jackson office reopens: 202-690-4494 or 202-720-4232.

August 2005

• Premium Reduction Plan Companies and State List (Aug 31, 2005) RMA today announced that nine companies have been determined eligible for the opportunity to offer crop insurance premium discounts in states the companies selected for the 2006 reinsurance year.
• Agrinational/Agriserve Approved as New Federal Crop Insurance Provider (Aug 25, 2005) RMA today announced Agrinational Insurance Company, with its Managing General Agent (MGA), Agriserve Inc., as the newest approved participant in the Federal crop insurance program.
• Final Rule for 508(h) Submissions Published in the Federal Register (Aug 2, 2005) The final rule establishing guidelines for submission of crop insurance policies, plans of insurance, and rates of premium to FCIC Board under section 508(h) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act was published August 2, 2005, in the Federal Register. The rule specifies procedures for requesting reimbursement for research and development costs, and maintenance costs for products and the approval process. (PDF)

July 2005

• RMA Contracts to Address Declining Crop Yields (Jul 25, 2005) RMA has awarded two contracts exploring innovative approaches to the problem of declining crop yields.
• PRP Interim Rule Published (Jul 20, 2005) The interim rule regarding Premium Reduction Plans was published in the Federal Register today. RMA will solicit comments on the interim rule when there has been sufficient time to experience the operation of the program. (Interim rule, PDF) Related item: Info Memo
• PRP Interim Rule to Be Published (Jul 14, 2005) The OFR version of the Premium Reduction Plan rule will be available and posted July 20, 2005 in the Federal Register. RMA will solicit comments on the interim rule when there has been sufficient time to experience the operation of the program. (Interim rule, PDF) Related item: Info Memo

June 2005

• Informational Memorandum on PRP Rule Process (Jun 30, 2005) RMA understands that some insurance providers are concerned that any delay in the publication of the rule will not provide them sufficient time to submit and have approved an application for a premium reduction plan for the 2006 reinsurance year under the current process stated in the proposed rule. (PDF)
• RMA Administrator Testifies (Jun 28, 2005) "Through the private sector delivery system in crop year 2004, RMA provided approximately $46.7 billion of protection to farmers on approximately 370 commodities covering over 80 percent of planted acreage in the United States." -- Ross J. Davidson, Jr., RMA Adminstrator Related items: Testimony presentation | Crop indemnity map (PDF)
• New Nursery Crop Provisions Published (Jun 28, 2005) RMA's Federal Crop Insurance Corporation has published a new rule governing nursery crop insurance which extends greater flexibility and protection to nursery crop growers. (PDF)
• RMA Announces Resumption of LRP Sales (Jun 27, 2005) Rates and coverage prices for Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) Fed Cattle and LRP Feeder Cattle resumed the evening of June 27, 2005. See section 4 of the LRP policy for sales availability information. (PDF)
• Sentenced (Jun 23, 2005) A Michigan potato producer was ordered to serve 87 months in Federal custody and to pay $2,288,383 in restitution for falsely certifying crop production records and collecting more than $2.2 million in crop insurance indemnities than he was entitled to for crop years 1998-2003. An RMA special investigator and Midwest Regional Compliance office assisted with the investigation and trial. (PDF) Related item: Convicted
• Good Farming Practice Bulletin (Jun 10, 2005) RMA's latest manager's bulletin provides guidance to insurance providers regarding the standards and process by which they may make good farming practice decisions and seek RMA review of such decisions. It also sets forth due process by which producers may appeal adverse good farming practice decisions made by insurance providers.
• Certified Agronomists, Crop Advisers Provide Technical Advice (Jun 10, 2005) Producers seeking technical assistance in combating soybean rust may wish to consult certified professional agronomists and certified crop advisers.

May 2005

• RMA Announces Funding Availability for Risk Management Initiatives (May 11, 2005) RMA has announced funding availability for two initiatives: 1) competitive partnerships in the amount of $4 million for partnership agreements to fund risk management research activities, and 2) outreach and assistance partnerships in the amount of $5 million to fund programs for socially disadvantaged and other traditionally under-served producers. This is addition to the $9 million for targeted states, commodity partnerships, and commodity partnership small session programs announced in March.
• RMA, FSA Joint Effort Announced (May 6, 2005) USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA) and Farm Service Agency (FSA) will join together to develop a comprehensive information management system to reduce duplicative acreage and other reports required from producers and insurance providers under each agency's programs. (PDF)

April 2005

• Davidson Announces 2005 FFA Winners in RMA Essay Contest (Apr 1, 2005) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) today announced the ten national winners of the eighth annual FFA Risk Management Strategies Writing Contest.

March 2005

• RMA Announces Funding Availability for Risk Management Education (Mar 29, 2005) USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA) today announced funding availability for competitive partnerships and cooperative agreements in the amounts of $4.5 million for targeted states, $4 million for commodity partnerships, and $500,000 for commodity partnership small session programs. Related items: Application Kit | (PDF) Federal Register notices for: Targeted States | Commodity Partnerships | Commodity Partnerships Small Session
• Farmers Urged to Discuss Soybean Rust Concerns with Experts (Mar 24, 2005) RMA today encouraged insured producers concerned about the impact of Asian soybean rust to seek and follow recommendations of agricultural experts.
• Convicted (Mar 8, 2005) A Federal jury convicted Michigan resident Alan A. Kuehnemund on 16 felony charges of supplying false information to fraudulently obtain over $2 million in crop insurance indemnity payments. An RMA special investigator and Midwest Regional Compliance Office assisted with the investigation and trial. (PDF)
• RMA Administrator Testifies (Mar 8, 2005) "RMA continues to make crop insurance protection useful to producers, research ways to address multi-year losses, expand risk management education opportunities, provide outreach to limited resource farmers, stimulate development of insurance products, and improve program integrity." -- Ross J. Davidson, Jr., RMA Administrator
• Asian Soybean Rust (updated Mar 7, 2005) Producers concerned about Asian soybean rust must be knowledgeable of any pending outbreaks and recommended control methods to combat the disease in their area.
• Iowa Farmer Sentenced (Mar 1, 2005) Iowa farmer Donald Kluver was sentenced for crop insurance program fraud. RMA's Northern Regional Compliance Office assisted in the case. (PDF)
• Sales Closing Dates Near (Mar 1, 2005) RMA reminds producers of the March 15 sales closing dates for crop insurance. These sales closing dates apply to most of the spring-planted crops in the U.S.

February 2005

• Financial Assistance for Producers in Targeted States (Feb 23, 2005) Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced the availability of up to $5 million to help agricultural producers purchase crop insurance in 15 historically underserved states. Related item: Managers bulletin (PDF)
• RMA Web Site Customer Survey (Feb 23, 2005) RMA is conducting a Web Site Customer Satisfaction Survey to gather feedback on RMA web site content. Your response will help the RMA web team reinvent our content to meet customers" needs.
• Burley Tobacco Crop Insurance Undergoes Changes for 2005 (Feb 16, 2005) As a result of the recent tobacco quota buyout, the process for determining burley tobacco insurance guarantees will change significantly, beginning immediately for the 2005 crop year. Related item: Managers bulletin (PDF)
• Sales Closing Dates Near (Feb 15, 2005) RMA reminds producers of the February 28 and March 15 sales closing dates for crop insurance. These sales closing dates apply to most of the spring-planted crops in the U.S.
• Financial Assistance for Producers in Targeted States (Feb 11, 2005) RMA will provide financial assistance to producers purchasing crop insurance in 15 targeted States. (PDF)
• Conference to Highlight Risk Management Strategies (Feb 7, 2005) RMA will host a conference dealing with risk management strategies for Northeast small and limited resource producers on March 2 and 3 in Sturbridge, MA. Related items: Agenda | Registration form (PDF)

January 2005

• Crop Insurance Addresses Soybean Rust Concerns (Jan 31, 2005) Producers concerned about the impact of Asian soybean rust on their crop insurance indemnities should talk to their crop insurance agent about good farming practices. Related items: Regional IPM Centers News Alert
• Iowa Family Pleads Guilty to Crop Insurance Fraud (Jan 24, 2005) A Carroll county, IA family pleaded guilty to crop insurance fraud. RMA's northern regional compliance office assisted in the case. (PDF)
• Conference to Highlight Risk Management Strategies (Jan 11, 2005) RMA will host a conference dealing with risk management strategies for Northeast small and limited resource producers on March 2 and 3 in Sturbridge, MA. (PDF)