Like so many things impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the USDA is extending the sign up process for the Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs) program for farmers until June 30, 2022 or later.
These flexibilities were originally set to expire this month.
“Our priority is to keep our producers and partners as safe as possible, while at the same time continuing to provide the best service we can,” said Marcia Bunger, Administrator of USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) in a press release. “These unique times call for everyone to be cautious and as flexible as possible, and these added flexibilities will help us achieve those goals.”
Extended deadlines include the following:
• Allowing notifications to be sent electronically, including policy related information over the phone or other electronic methods to select policy elections by sales closing, acreage reporting and production reporting dates, including options, endorsements and their forms. Producers can sign electronically, or within 60 calendar day.
• Allowing producers to submit a request for a written agreement after the sales closing date.
• Allowing producers with inability to physically sign a written agreement because of COVID-19 to do so after the expiration date.
• Providing additional time for AIPs to accept Regional Office Determined Yield, Master Yield, and Irrigated Determined Yield requests for Category B (annual) crops.
• Allowing AIPs to request a 30-day extension to submit Determined Yield requests for Category C (perennial) crops.
• Waiving the witness signature requirement for approval of Assignments of Indemnity.
Additional details can be found in RMA’s Jan. 20, 2022 Manager’s Bulletin, the frequently asked questions or farmers.gov/coronavirus.
More Information
According to the press release RMA staff work with AIPs and customers electronically, by phone, mail, or in person to continue to support crop insurance coverage for producers. Farmers with questions or concerns about crop insurance should contact their insurance agents to discuss conducting business remotely (by phone or email). More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.
Private crop insurance agents sell and deliver crop insurance. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at rma.usda.gov.
Source: Successful Farming
