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RMA provides policies for more than 100 crops, a number which would be much higher if every insurance plan available for the crops insured in every county were counted. (See our current crop list.) RMA also conducts studies to determine the feasibility of insuring other crops. Federal crop insurance policies typically consist of the Common Crop Insurance Policy, the specific crop provisions, and policy endorsements and special provisions. See RMA's Summary of Business reports for information about crop policies available in specific counties and states.

USDA's Farm Service Agency manages the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), providing financial assistance to producers of noninsurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory, or prevented planting occurs.

Multiple-peril crop insurance (MPCI) policies are available for most insured crops. Other plans may not be available for some insured crops in some areas. Some policies are not available nationwide; they are tested in pilot programs available in selected states and counties.

Actual Production History (APH) policies insure producers against yield losses due to natural causes such as drought, excessive moisture, hail, wind, frost, insects, and disease. The farmer selects the amount of average yield he or she wishes to insure; from 50-75 percent (in some areas to 85 percent). The farmer also selects the percent of the predicted price he or she wants to insure; between 55 and 100 percent of the crop price established annually by RMA. If the harvest is less than the yield insured, the farmer is paid an indemnity based on the difference. Indemnities are calculated by multiplying this difference by the insured percentage of the established price selected when crop insurance was purchased.

Group Risk Plan (GRP) policies use a county index as the basis for determining a loss. When the county yield for the insured crop, as determined by National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), falls below the trigger level chosen by the farmer, an indemnity is paid. Payments are not based on the individual farmer's loss records. Yield levels are available for up to 90 percent of the expected county yield. GRP protection involves less paperwork and costs less than the farm-level coverage described above. However, individual crop losses may not be covered if the county yield does not suffer a similar level of loss. This insurance is most often selected by farmers whose crop losses typically follow the county pattern.

Dollar Plan provides protection against declining value due to damage that causes a yield shortfall. Amount of insurance is based on the cost of growing a crop in a specific area. A loss occurs when the annual crop value is less than the amount of insurance. The maximum dollar amount of insurance is stated on the actuarial document. The insured may select a percent of the maximum dollar amount equal to CAT (catastrophic level of coverage), or additional coverage levels.

Rainfall Index (RI) is based on weather data collected and maintained by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. The index reflects how much precipitation is received relative to the long-term average for a specified area and timeframe. The program divides the country into six regions due to different weather patterns, with pilots available in select counties.

Vegetation Index (VI) is based on the U.S. Geological Survey's Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data derived from satellites observing long-term changes in greenness of vegetation of the earth since 1989. The program divides the country into six regions due to different weather patterns, with pilots available in select counties.

Note: All revenue-based options determine revenue differently. See each policy's provisions for their definition of revenue.

Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) - insures revenue of the entire farm rather than an individual crop by guaranteeing a percentage of average gross farm revenue, including a small amount of livestock revenue. The plan uses information from a producer's Schedule F tax forms, and current year expected farm revenue, to calculate policy revenue guarantee.

Crop Revenue Coverage (CRC) - provides revenue protection based on price and yield expectations by paying for losses below the guarantee at the higher of an early-season price or the harvest price.

Group Risk Income Protection (GRIP) - makes indemnity payments only when the average county revenue for the insured crop falls below the revenue chosen by the farmer.

Income Protection (IP) - protects producers against reductions in gross income when either a crop's price or yield declines from early-season expectations. To determine coverage, see the policy provisions.

Revenue Assurance (RA) - provides dollar-denominated coverage by the producer selecting a dollar amount of target revenue from a range defined by 65-75 percent of expected revenue. To determine coverage, see the policy provisions.

Catastrophic Coverage (CAT) - pays 55 percent of the established price of the commodity on crop losses in excess of 50 percent. The premium on CAT coverage is paid by the Federal Government; however, producers must pay a $300 administrative fee (as of the 2008 Farm Bill) for each crop insured in each county. Limited-resource farmers may have this fee waived. CAT coverage is not available on all types of policies.

• Report acreage accurately,
• Meet policy deadlines,
• Pay premiums when due, and
• Report losses immediately.

Note: Contact a crop insurance agent for additional information regarding your specific obligations.

• Accurate answers to questions on types of coverage,
• Prompt processing of their policy, and
• Timely payments for covered losses.

• Sales closing date - last day to apply for coverage.
• Final planting date - last day to plant unless insured for late planting.
• Acreage reporting date - last day to report the acreage planted. If not reported, insurance will not be in effect.
• Date to file notice of crop damage - after damage; the date the producer decides to discontinue caring for the crop; prior to the beginning of harvest; immediately, if farmer determines that the crop is damaged after harvest begins; or the end of the insurance period, whichever is earlier.
• End of insurance period - latest date of insurance coverage.
• Payment due date - last day to pay the premium without being charged interest.
• Cancellation date - last day to request cancellation of policy for the next year.
• Production reporting date - last day to report production for Actual Production History (APH).
• Debt termination date - date insurance company will terminate policy for nonpayment.

Although RMA has streamlined the process of developing new policies, much must be done before a policy can be made available nationwide, especially if it is a new type of policy or a policy on a crop which is not similar to any crop already insured. Generally, the process takes several years. Read in Frequently Asked Questions about how insurance policies are developed. Also see pilot programs for more information on new policies.

Where an established crop policy is not available, farmers may request that their RMA Regional Office expand the program to their county the next crop year. They may also request insurance under a written agreement, a kind of individual policy which bases premium rates on data from other counties. Farmers are required to have documented experience in growing the crop, or in growing an agronomically similar crop, to obtain the agreement. See the RMA fact sheet Requesting Insurance Not Available in Your County.

For more information, contact the RMA Web Content Team.