Crop insurers and farm industry leaders reflected on the history of crop insurance and praised the successes of the program as they gathered this week for the crop insurance industry?s 75th annual meeting in Florida. Kendall Jones, chair of National Crop Insurance Services and president and CEO of ProAg, said the industry has seen great change over the past three-quarters of a century.
?Over the past 75 years, the crop insurance industry has worked to turn challenges into new opportunities for agriculture,? Jones said. ?The result is a modern, data-driven, and responsive crop insurance program. Crop insurance helps give farmers the risk management tools they need to grow the crops that feed, fuel, and clothe America.?
Last year, crop insurance protected a record 490 million acres of farmland. Jones said farmers and ranchers across the country support a strong crop insurance program.
?I?m proud to work for an industry that is tapping into American innovation to continually improve the products that we offer to farmers,? Jones said. ?That?s why farmers trust crop insurance ? and it?s no wonder that farmers are speaking out about the importance of crop insurance as Congress debates the next farm bill.?
Jones said crop insurance also serves as a partner to farmers as they work to invest in climate-smart solutions.
?We need a farm bill that strengthens crop insurance, so that it works for more farmers, more crops, and more acres,? Jones said. ?This is even more critical as farmers work towards real climate solutions. Crop insurance has adapted to accommodate farmer-led conservation practices and investments in technology.?
Jones noted that farmers purchase crop insurance policies, and farmers invested more than six billion dollars of their own money in 2022 to protect their crops.
?The crop insurance industry is protecting the American farmer while being a good steward for the American taxpayer,? Jones said. ?When it comes to supporting farmers and protecting a secure food supply, there?s just too much at stake to not have a strong safety net in place. Crop insurance keeps America growing.?
For more information, visit ag-risk.org.
