Pasture, Rangeland, & Forage - The Home Agency

Pasture, Rangeland, & Forage

There have been several changes to the Pasture, Rangeland and Forage (PRF) pilot program that is again available in 2016.  PRF is now available in the 48 contiguous states with the exception of a few grids that cross international borders.  The Vegetation Index has been removed and the Rainfall Index will be the only index available in all areas available for coverage.  The Rainfall Index is insurance coverage based on a single peril, lack of precipitation.  The program is designed to give you the ability to buy insurance protection for losses of forage produced for grazing or harvested for hay.  This index uses national Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Center (NOAA CPC) data for a grid which is approximately 17 x 17 miles.   You must select at least two, 2-month periods where precipitation is important to your operation.  These periods are called index intervals.  Insurance payments are determined by using NOAA CPC data for the grid(s) and index interval(s) you have chosen to insure.  When the final grid index falls below your “trigger grid index”, you may receive an indemnity.  It is important to note that coverage is based on the experience of the entire grid, not on individual farms or ranches or specific weather stations in the area.  The Rainfall Index plan still utilizes a productivity factor that allows the insured to individualize their coverage based on the productivity of the acreage insured.  Insureds may elect a productivity factor between 60 and 150, in one percent increments.  RMA has also added an irrigated hay practice to the program in some states.  You are not required to insure all your acres in this program, but you cannot exceed the total number of grazing or haying acres that you operate.  The Sales Closing Deadline and also the Acreage Reporting Deadline for this program is November 15th.

If you have any questions regarding this insurance program, contact your agent today at 800-245-4241 or send us a message through the Contact Us Form.