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Risk Management

Variability and uncertainty in prices, yields, and foreign markets means that risk management plays an important role in many farm business decisions. A number of risk management tools are available, including Federally subsidized yield and revenue insurance, futures and options, contracting sales and purchases, enterprise diversification, debt-level management, credit, and off-farm employment. ERS conducts cutting-edge research on the effects of risk and risk-management tools on production practices, farm structure, and farm performance.

Spotlights

Whole-Farm Approaches to a Safety Net—"Whole-farm revenue" programs have been proposed as a new form of income stabilization that would be available to all U.S. farms. This report looks at the risk management potential for such programs, which are not linked to production of particular commodities, and the obstacles to implementing such an approach.

Why Hasn't Crop Insurance Eliminated Disaster Assistance?—The U.S. Government has promoted crop insurance over disaster payments as a primary risk management tool. Subsidies to encourage producer participation have been steadily increased. But, despite gains in insurance coverage, disaster payments remain high.
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