In an effort to better safeguard farmers against the adverse effects of extreme drought, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico and Roger Marshall of Kansas have jointly presented the "Protecting Farmers from Drought Act". This new legislation aims to expand upon current federal protections available to farming communities hit hard by severe drought conditions.
One of the notable features of this bill is the proposed extension in coverage. It allows farmers an additional year for water situations to get better without the fear of losing their crop insurance coverage. This move ensures that the crop insurance program remains robust and reliable.
Explaining the core of the bill, the release noted that prevent planting coverage pays farmers when they cannot plant insured crops due to insured causes. Introduced to protect crops in wetlands, a nationwide expansion of the "1 in 4" rule in 2019 led to some unintended complications.
Farmers in the West, facing severe drought, were at risk of losing access to key risk management tools.
FCIC waived a rule for western states, but Luján and Marshall's bill aims for a permanent solution with a "1 in 5" rule for Prevented Planting Insurance, providing enduring aid to drought-affected farmers.
Luján emphasized the critical role that farmers play in New Mexico's agricultural industry, highlighting the need for this act. He stated that the current rules risk farmers losing their planting coverage due to persistent droughts.
Marshall discussed how the bill would be beneficial for Kansas. With a significant part of the state grappling with drought, the importance of predictable insurance coverage becomes even more important.
Marshall's goal, in partnership with Luján, is to ensure farmers have consistent protection during the drought periods.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-neenawat555
Categories: Kansas, Government & Policy