National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS) continues to drive important discussions in the agricultural sector through its Keep America Growing podcast. The latest episode, recorded at the annual crop insurance industry meeting in Florida, features conversations with outgoing NCIS Chairman Scott Arnold and incoming Chairman Andy Caruso.

Host Tom Zacharias set the stage by highlighting key industry issues discussed at the conference, including new leadership in Washington, extreme weather challenges in 2024, and an upcoming growing season filled with both opportunities and uncertainties.

Scott Arnold, President of Rain and Hail and NCIS’s outgoing chairman, reflected on the industry’s remarkable growth over the past five years.

“Since 2019, we’ve added 30 new products, insured 205 million additional acres, and added $70 billion in annual protection for farmers and ranchers,” he stated.

Arnold also emphasized the need for continuous investment in staff training and customer education to keep up with this expansion and meet the industry’s commitment to providing timely assistance when disasters strike.

“The more than $800 million our industry got out the door in just a couple of weeks to farmers hit by last year’s hurricanes was a game-changer for those communities,” he said.

As Arnold steps down from his leadership role, he passes the torch to Andy Caruso, Vice President & General Manager of American Farm Bureau Insurance Services, Inc. Caruso acknowledged the changing political landscape and stressed the importance of educating new policymakers on the value of crop insurance.

“Crop insurance exists to help America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities rebound after disaster strikes. If it’s not working, we’ll have concerned farmers and need to make a lot of changes quickly,” he explained.

Caruso also emphasized the unique attributes that set crop insurance apart. “The efficiency and speed of private-sector delivery, the cost-sharing design that shields taxpayers from excessive risk exposure, and the unique public-private partnership between insurers and the USDA” all contribute to a robust and reliable safety net for agricultural producers.

To hear the full discussion, tune in to Keep America Growing and stay connected with NCIS at www.cropinsuranceinamerica.org.