Robert Bonnie, USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, and USDA Risk Management Agency Administrator Marcia Bunger visited the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) Annual Meeting last week in Scottsdale, Arizona, ahead of this week’s National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS) conference.

Bonnie discussed USDA’s commitment to supporting farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners through Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities. “We’ve now funded about 135 projects across the country,” said Bonnie. “The idea here is to create markets. The government can play an important role here but if we’re going to be successful, the investment has to come from the private sector.”

Bunger was happy to brag about the crop insurance program. “I can now say truthfully, we have the best crop insurance in the world,” she said, noting that she attended an international meeting last fall. “It was hosted by the country of Spain with other countries in attendance and while they are each proud of their own crop insurance, they’re looking to us. They acknowledge we have the best in the world.”

Listen to their joint remarks and interviews with each below:

Robert Bonnie and Marcia Bunger, USDA 45:58

Interview with Robert Bonnie, USDA 3:42

Interview with Marcia Bunger, USDA 2:57

2024 CIRB Annual Meeting Photo Album