Pasture, Range, and Forage (PRF)

About Rainfall Index Policies

Rainfall Index (RI) policies include Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PRF), Annual Forage (AF), and Apiculture (API). RI plans are group policies, meaning individual losses are NOT covered. The index associated with your crop and grid determines your indemnity.

Rainfall indices use weather data from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center (CPC). Each grid is 0.25° latitude by 0.25° longitude (approximately 12 miles by 12 miles).

Eligible policyholders include owners, operators, landlords, and tenants. Coverage levels range from 70 – 90% in 5% increments and protection factors range from 60 – 150%.

The FCIC issues a final grid index for insured grids at the end of the insurance period. The final grid index is based on precipitation received during the index interval for the selected grid and is expressed as a percentage. An index of 100 represents average precipitation, an index below 100 represents below average precipitation, and an index above 100 represents above average precipitation. The trigger grid index is the result of multiplying the expected grid index by the coverage level.

You will receive a payment only when the final grid index is less than the trigger grid index, regardless of your actual individual experience.

Rainfall PRF

Rainfall PRF covers pasture, rangeland, or forage for perennial haying and/or grazing purposes. It was designed to help protect a producer’s operation from the risks of forage loss due to the lack of precipitation. PRF is available in all counties in the 48 contiguous states. Noncontiguous acreage in a grid must establish a point of reference by intended use (grazing or haying), irrigation practice, and organic practice.

PRF Rainfall Index

Rainfall PRF plans cover a decline in rainfall indices. To qualify, select at least two rainfall intervals per year. The intervals cannot overlap.

Jan. – Feb.
Feb. – Mar.
Mar. – Apr.
Apr. – May
May – Jun.
Jun. – Jul.

Jul. – Aug.
Aug. – Sept.
Sept. – Oct.
Oct. – Nov.
Nov. – Dec.

Calculating an Indemnity

In this Rainfall PRF example, assume the final grid index is 60, the county base value (CBV) is $9.60, the coverage level is 90%, the protection factor is 120%, and the trigger grid is 90. The insured has a 100% share.

CBV × coverage level × protection factor = protection $9.60 × 90% × 120% = $10.37 per acre

(Trigger grid - final grid) ÷ trigger grid = factor (90 - 60) ÷ 90 = .333

Factor × protection × share = indemnity .333 × $10.37 per acre × 100% = $3.45 per acre

System Tools

Our systems provide both daily and historical information to help you make the right insurance decisions. Talk to your agent about these tools today!

Historical Indices

Our quoting system features the ability to represent historical indices, indemnities, and 5, 10, and 20 year rate of returns for the policy (quote) all in one location. These values provide the ability to present a “what if” indemnity scenario based on a historical year being selected using the final index and indemnity associated with that year.

PRF Historical Data Estimated Index and Indemnity

Our Historical Data view, within our quoting system, allows you to see the estimated index and indemnity information for the interval that just completed. With this information, you can now see an estimate of how your policy will pay out for the applicable interval.

Current Estimated Rainfall

Stay up-to-date on your policy. Want to compare the current estimated rainfall index to the historical rainfall index? Or view your PRF Potential Indemnity? Our system offers these reporting features to keep you informed each day! Ask your agent for more information.

Training Materials