Former USDA Chief Economist Discusses 40-Year Career, Farm Policy in New Videos
(OVERLAND PARK, Kan.) — Renowned agricultural economist Dr. Keith Collins reflects on his distinguished career and the future of farm policy in a series of videos released today by National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS). Collins spent 32 years in federal service, where he served as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) chief economist to four […]
Crop Insurance Must be Affordable, Available & Viable
NCIS President Discusses the Important Role of Crop Insurance
NCIS President Tom Zacharias discussed the growing role of crop insurance as the primary risk management tool for farmers in a recent radio interview with Courtnay Doyle of Dignity Farm Network in southwestern Minnesota. “The 2014 Farm Bill solidified crop insurance as the primary tool for farmers in dealing with production and price swings,” said […]
The Evolution of Farm Policy & Crop Insurance
Crop Insurers’ Returns In Question
Financial returns for crop insurers have fallen nearly 60 percent below expectations since 2011, according to the National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS). The Standard Reinsurance Agreement — the business contract between the federal government and private-sector insurers that went into effect in 2011 — targeted average returns on retained premium of 14.5 percent. Returns on […]
Give Crop Insurance a Chance to Work
A year after the farm bill was enacted the debate over crop insurance is brewing again. As cost estimates grow for the 2014 farm bill’s commodity program, several members of Congress are calling for program cuts. These congressmen seem to have forgotten that while the farm bill was being debated in 2012, Illinois was at […]
