Jeff Rutledge
Dec 16, 2021
WASHINGTON, DC -- Earlier this month, the House Agriculture Committee's General Farm Commodities and Risk Management (GFCRM) Subcommittee held a roundtable focusing on the federal crop insurance program to update and educate the Subcommittee’s 13 members on the workings of this federal cost-share program.
Leaders from two crop insurance companies and an agent from Washington state were joined by Arkansas rice farmer Jeff Rutledge, the sole farmer on the panel.
Rutledge provided detailed insight from the farm level on what could be done to improve insurance, particularly for rice. He highlighted the high stakes of farming and the cost-benefit analysis every farmer must make in choosing insurance and other risk mitigating investments.
He also reflected on the development of new policies, like Whole Farm Revenue (WFRP), that have potential but need improvement to maximize effectiveness.
Other panelists from the crop insurance industry spoke of the financial risks borne by companies in this public-private partnership, and the delivery infrastructure that has been built out through agents and adjusters that provides timely and competitive service to farmers — even through the pandemic when federal employees were limited.
“USA Rice appreciates the House Agriculture Committee's General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee leaders for again ensuring rice is at the table for these important discussions on farm policy,” said Ben Mosely, USA Rice vice president of government affairs. “The information and insights we can provide ahead of the next farm bill help us build an educational foundation we can bank on as those farm bill talks begin in earnest next year.”