Featured News

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it is expanding crop insurance options with a new Grapevine insurance program, which will provide coverage for loss of grafted vines caused by natural perils such as freeze or fire. The new program also will complement the Grape crop insurance program that covers the fruit growing on the vine. August 31, 2023

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it is improving crop insurance options for small and diversified farmers through improvements to the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WRFP) and Micro Farm insurance plans. These updates are part of USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) efforts to increase participation and access to crop insurance. August 31, 2023

In a recent press release, the USDA announced corrections to the Emergency Relief Program policy to more accurately reflect 2020 and 2021 natural disaster impacts on crops intended for on-farm use (including grapes grown and used by the same producer for wine production or forage that is grown, stored and fed to livestock, that do not generate revenue directly from the sale of the crop). In addition, duplicative payment provisions for two key conservation programs are also clarified. The deadline to submit applications for ERP Phase Two is July 14, 2023. June 22, 2023

NAU Country President Jim Korin recently provided commentary to Insurance Business Magazine on how crop insurance and farmers may have been impacted by the recent Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) crisis. June 21, 2023

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced plans to roll out $3.7 billion in Emergency Relief Program (ERP) and Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) assistance to crop and livestock producers who sustained losses due to a qualifying natural disaster event in calendar year 2022. USDA is sharing early information to allow producers time to gather documents in advance of program delivery. Through distribution of remaining funds, USDA is also concluding the 2021 ELRP program by sending payments in the amount of 20% of the initial ELRP payment to all existing recipients. May 22, 2023

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack appointed two new members of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) Board of Directors, which oversees the Federal crop insurance program available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Chris Bardenhagen and Howard James will serve four-year terms beginning this month on the board, which guides USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) on administering crop insurance. May 18, 2023

NAU Country President Jim Korin is speaking on the importance of the crop insurance industry at the United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry - Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade's hearing on Thursday, May 4, 2023. May 01, 2023

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding its Margin Protection insurance plan, adding more than a thousand counties to the insurance option that provides coverage against an unexpected decrease in operating margin for corn and soybean producers. This expansion, which is in direct response to growing interest among producers, will be available by June 30, 2023. Interested producers will need to purchase their coverage by Sept. 30, 2023, to be eligible for the 2024 crop year. March 31, 2023

John McDermott is a recipient of the 2023 Industry Leadership Award for consistently serving the industry and providing outstanding leadership to National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS) and the crop insurance industry. The award was presented during the 2023 Crop Insurance Industry Annual Convention in Bonita Springs, Florida. February 23, 2023

In honor of National FFA Week (February 18-25, 2023), the QBE Foundation and NAU Country are proud to support the National FFA Organization! Our partnership and sponsorship with the National FFA Foundation is setting up the success of our future farmers. Check out the story from the National FFA Organization spotlighting our company's commitment to serve and support FFA in the many years ahead! February 10, 2023