RFA Ethanol Podcast

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

Optimism in Crop Insurance Reinsurance Industry

Cindy Zimmerman

This time last year, the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) was concerned about what might happen with the new farm bill. This year, members are pretty pleased with how it all turned out. CIRB chairman Zane Vaughn with ARMtech Insurance gives a lot of credit to the organization’s “Protect Crop Insurance” campaign. “It was very beneficial for staff on …

AgWired Precision, Audio, CIRB, Crop Insurance

Farm Credit System Outlook on Agriculture Credit Conditions

Cindy Zimmerman

Three Farm Credit CEOs briefed the media Wednesday on credit conditions and the general agricultural economy. Below are links to audio files of the remarks from each CEO representing different parts of the country. Click here for supporting materials. Kathy Heustess, CEO, ArborOne Farm Credit – South Carolina/Southeast Mark Jensen, CEO, Farm Credit Services of America/Frontier Farm Credit – NE/IA/SD/WY …

Audio, Crop Insurance, Farm Credit

Farmers Mutual Hail Partners with Climate Corporation

Cindy Zimmerman

The Climate Corporation, a subsidiary of Bayer, is partnering with Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company of Iowa (FMH) on a platform expanding Climate FieldView™ for crop insurance reporting. “We are excited about working with The Climate Corporation to add an easy-to-use reporting option for our policyholders who use FieldView and agents utilizing FMH Precision Crop Insurance Solutions™,” said Ron Rutledge, …

AgWired Precision, Bayer, Crop Insurance, Precision Agriculture