RFA Ethanol Podcast

2020 Economic Outlook

Carrie Muehling

Economist Bob Young told those attending the 2020 Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau Annual Meeting that the general economy is not in a bad place, and he expects some economic growth in the year ahead. When it comes to the agriculture sector specifically, Young has questions about what will happen with all of the acres that were not planted in …

Audio, CIRB, Insurance

CIRB Emerging Leaders Class Grows

Carrie Muehling

The Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) named 13 industry professionals to its 2019-2020 Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) class. In its 5th year, this is the largest class to date, with participants selected from CIRB’s membership. The program gives the opportunity for selected professionals to increase their knowledge of advocacy and communications while providing networking experiences with industry leaders. Most …

Audio, CIRB, Crop Insurance

CIRB Still Growing Together After 56 Years

Cindy Zimmerman

The 56th annual Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) ended on a high note Friday after an informative two days of presentations on important industry topics such as the farm economy, trade, climate change, and hemp. The theme of the meeting this year was “Together we Grow” and CIRB Executive Vice President Mike Torrey says one area where the organization …

Audio, CIRB, Crop Insurance

Crop Insurance Update from USDA RMA at CIRB

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) Administrator Martin Barbre gave an update to Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) members during their annual meeting last week. One of the big topics of discussion was the recently announced availability of two programs that protect hemp producers’ crops from natural disasters. “We’re trying to get to a level where we can insure producers’ …

Audio, Cannabis, CIRB, Crop Insurance, USDA

CIRB Honors Sen. Roberts for Crop Insurance Support

Cindy Zimmerman

The “Father of the Modern Crop Insurance Program” was honored today for his lifetime of service to farmers and the industry by the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB). CIRB Chairman, Zane Vaughn of ARMtech, presented Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) with the crop insurance industry’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Chairman Roberts is the only Member of Congress to …

Audio, CIRB, Crop Insurance, Crop Protection

Farm Groups Defend Crop Insurance Budget

Cindy Zimmerman

Sixty organizations, including a majority of the nation’s farm groups, sent a letter this week to the House and Senate Budget Committees, as well as Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, urging them to protect crop insurance during the budget process in recognition of its central importance to farmers and the rural economy. “Cuts to crop insurance during this difficult time for …

Ag Groups, Audio, CIRB, Crop Insurance

Crop Insurance Industry Stable in 2019

Cindy Zimmerman

The latest crop insurance industry outlook shows a stable picture right now, according to a presentation at last week’s Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) annual meeting in San Diego. “The crop insurance industry should be feeling pretty good about its current state, and stability is how we’d describe it,” said Steve Webersen, Head of Insurance Research at Conning, Inc. …

Audio, CIRB, Crop Insurance

CIRB Emerging Leaders Program is Growing

Cindy Zimmerman

The Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) Emerging Leaders Program just keeps growing. The 2018-19 CIRB ELP class includes: Back row – RJ Brinkmeyer – Farmers Mutual Hail Ryan Kramer- Farmers Mutual Hail Bret Keeler- ARMtech Insurance Services John Haldy – Guy Carpenter Kevin Boeckenstedt – Crop Risk Services Front row – Bryce Benson – American Farm Bureau Insurance Service …

Audio, CIRB, Crop Insurance

CIRB Year in Review and Look Ahead

Cindy Zimmerman

2018 was a very good year for the crop insurance and reinsurance industry and 2019 is looking good also. “This was a momentous year for the industry, compared to what might have been,” said Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) executive vice president Mike Torrey in his update at the organization’s annual meeting last week in San Diego. “We were …

Audio, CIRB, Crop Insurance

USDA RMA Administrator Updates #CIRB2019

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA Risk Management Agency administrator and Illinois farmer Martin Barbre attended the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) annual meeting this week to provide an update on his agency’s priorities. Barbre discussed a number of issues, including the Multi County Enterprise Unit, upcoming deadlines, a Farm Bill implementation listening session coming up February 26, disaster relief, and the Dairy Revenue …

AgWired Precision, CIRB, Crop Insurance, USDA