Featured News
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President's Budget Confirms Crop Insurance Essential to Farm Safety Net
On March 11, President Joe Biden released a proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget that fully funds the Federal crop insurance program. The budget states that the “administration supports improvements to crop insurance, proactively managing risk from natural hazards, including the permanent authorization of the cover crop incentive program.” March 15, 2024 -
USDA Expands Insurance Option for Nursery Growers to All States
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding crop insurance tailored for nursery producers to all counties in all states. Nursery Value Select (NVS) is a pilot program that enables nursery producers to select the dollar amount of coverage that best fits their risk management needs. Its expansion is part of USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) efforts to provide insurance options for a broader group of producers, including specialty crop producers. March 08, 2024 -
Stopgap spending bill approved to avoid a government shutdown
Update: March 8, 2024 | The Senate passed a $467.5 billion spending package on Friday, March 8, 2024. The bipartisan bill will fund the agriculture, transportation, housing, energy, veterans, and additional programs through September 30, 2024. NAU Country will continue to keep you informed as we learn more about the situation. November 22, 2023
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NAU Country Insurance Company is prepared to keep you covered during a government shutdown
In the case of a government shutdown, NAU Country wants to make sure you are reassured of our commitment to our agents and policyholders. In addition, we will continue to keep you informed as we learn more from RMA. September 29, 2021 -
RMA Extends Deadlines, Waives Interest Deferral for Emergency Drought Relief
The RMA is authorizing Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs) to allow policyholders additional time to make payments. The RMA is aware of concerns about the requirements to pay crop insurance premiums timely in order to avoid accrual of interest. July 29, 2021 -
USDA Funds Risk Management Education for Historically Underserved Producers
The USDA announced in a Press Release that that they are investing nearly $1 million in funding for universities and nonprofits to develop risk management training and educational tools aimed to assist historically underserved farmers and ranchers. This investment will include RMA projects to help producers manage long-term risks and challenges. July 29, 2021 -
Farmers Emphasize to Congress Importance of Crop Insurance
Farmers from across the country testified in June before a House Agriculture Subcommittee hearing examining the efficacy of the farm safety net. The crop insurance program gives farmers predictable tools to manage their unique risks. Farmers invest in crop insurance before a disaster – sharing in the risk – and they know how the rules of their policy will help them recover. July 14, 2021 -
USDA to Begin Payments for Producers Impacted by 2018 and 2019 Natural Disasters
More than $1 billion in payments will be released over the next several weeks starting June 15 for agricultural producers with approved applications for the Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) Program and for producers who have already received payments through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+). June 14, 2021 -
New Pandemic Cover Crop Program (PCCP) announced by the USDA and RMA
The USDA announced today that many agricultural producers that have cop insurance coverage may be eligible for a premium benefit if they planted cover crops during this crop year. The Pandemic Cover Crop Program (PCCP) is offered through the USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA) to help maintain a producers cover crop system, regardless of economic challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Application deadline is June 15. June 01, 2021 -
Crop Insurance Basics: Incentives
Policy makers designed crop insurance with a self-correcting feature that naturally discounts premium for any producer who improves their performance. This catch-all incentive rewards any behavior that increases yields and reduces risk for farmers and taxpayers. April 22, 2021 -
After a Year of Hardship, Hope Lies Ahead
More than 55 agricultural trade associations, agribusinesses, and farm lenders recently sent letters to policy makers and elected officials emphasizing that cuts to crop insurance must be avoided in this year’s budget discussions, as the certainty provided by the crop insurance program makes it a “critical linchpin of the farm safety net.” April 21, 2021 -
USDA temporarily suspends debt collections, foreclosures, and other activities on farm loans
Due to the national public health emergency caused by coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the temporary suspension of past-due debt collections and foreclosures for distressed borrowers under the Farm Storage Facility Loan and the Direct Farm Loan programs administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) February 10, 2021 -
USDA announces implementation improvements of Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) Insurance Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced that further changes to its Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) insurance plan will take effect on January 20 for crop year 2021 and succeeding crop years. January 22, 2021