Double cropping may be a less risky business with new crop insurance opportunities offered by the USDA’s Risk Management Agencies. Amidst concerns for food security, President Biden and Agricultural Secretary Vilsack are working to increase domestic food production.
Global food shortage concerns have increased amidst the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, supply chain disruptions, and continued reverberations from the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the risk of raising two crops on the same land is being decreased for growers in over 1,500 counties and 28 states where double-cropping is a viable option for farmers. Private crop insurance agents still provide coverage. You can find a locator for RMA agents here.
“In May, I joined President Biden at the O’Connor farm in Kankakee, Illinois, to announce a series of actions to help farmers do what they do — grow food for American families and the rest of the world. Today, USDA is making good on one of those commitments and making it easier to plant double crops and sharing some of the financial risks by making crop insurance more available in over 1,500 counties,” said Secretary Vilsack. “We live in a challenging time, but I put my trust in the American farmer and U.S. agriculture to help keep the food we need affordable and available. The Biden administration and USDA will continue to find ways to ease burdens on American farmers and lower costs for American families such as expanded double-crop options through crop insurance.”
Double Cropping Opportunities for Soybeans and Sorghum Maps
Soybean improvements:
Double crop coverage will be expanded or streamlined in at least 681 counties. Most of the expansions removed barriers, such as requiring production records. The process has been streamlined to allow for coverage through a written agreement.
Grain sorghum improvements:
Double crop coverage has been expanded or streamlined in at least 870 counties. Most changes included facilitating the requirements to securing a written agreement. Written agreements will allow producers to connect crop insurance without requiring coverage of both spring and winter crops.
RMA will be working with crop insurers and farm organizations to ensure that farmers are made aware of the availability of double-crop insurance programs.
Additional counties may be added as the USDA explores options with farmers throughout the summer. Producers can find other resources here.
