OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Feb. 27, 2012 —Crop insurance indemnities to farmers and ranchers hit a new record with $10.08 billion to cover agricultural losses. Surpassing the previous 2008 record of $8.67 billion by more than 16 percent, this year’s figure is expected to climb as more than an estimated five percent of claims remain outstanding.
“The ability of U.S. agriculture to sustain more than $10 billion in insured losses and seamlessly finance itself for the 2012 crop season should not be taken for granted,” said president of National Crop Insurance Services Tom Zacharias.
Zacharias said crop insurance’s popularity is high among farmers and lawmakers, and he thinks the system is working just as elected officials and agricultural leaders envisioned.
“Over the past 30 years, Congress and Administration officials have helped shape a public-private partnership that makes policies affordable and readily available, while speeding relief to growers through efficient private-sector delivery,” he said. “This is a testament to not only private industry but to USDA and the staff of the Risk Management Agency (RMA).”
This system, Zacharias noted, was specifically created to shift a significant portion of taxpayer risk exposure to private insurers. He said the fact that there were no calls for expensive taxpayer-funded ad hoc disaster bills after such a catastrophic growing season proves the system is working.
“In addition to helping to shield taxpayers from the full burden of an agricultural disaster, like the one we had last year, crop insurance has also received high marks from farmers for the speed and efficiency of its private sector delivery system,” Zacharias added.
Since 2008, a total of more than $28 billion has been sent to farmers for policies they purchased. Federal investment in crop insurance, during that same period, was reduced by more than $12 billion.
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