Martin Barbre

Recent flexibilities granted by the Risk Management Agency are not just regarding crop insurance. RMA Administrator, Martin Barbre, says his agency recently announced  modifications regarding the Dairy Revenue Protection coverage weekend sales. ...

Last week, the USDA’s Risk Management Agency announced that milk producers will not be inappropriately penalized if their milk must be dumped because of recent market disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, RMA is extending inspection deadlines, waiving inspection requirements and authorizing more crop insurance transactions over the phone and electronically to help producers

Ag  Undersecretary Bill Northy says in the wake of all that's going on with the COVID-19 situation, "We will continue to look to figure out if there's flexibility to be able to help producers." And the latest example of that coming from the USDA's Rick Management Agency. RM ...

One of the biggest questions facing those looking at growing hemp: Could the USDA raise the legal limit of permitted THC?   “To go from point three to one percent would have to be a statutory change in other words congress would have to take action,” said AMS Administrator, Bruce Summers. “We couldn't do...

The USDA’s Risk Management Agency is reminding producers that their crop insurance premiums for the 2019 crop year are due January 31st.  Policies that do not have the premium paid by January 31, 2020, will have interest attach on February 1, calculated from the date of the premium billing notice.  USDA had...

The USDA is reminding producers with crop insurance are facing harvest delays to make contact with their crop insurance agents by Tuesday, December 10th.  Farmers need to file a Notice of Loss by Tuesday or the applicable end of their insurance period to request an extension of time to finish harvest.  On...

Certain industrial hemp growers will be able to obtain insurance coverage under the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection program for crop year 2020.  On Tuesday, the Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency Tuesday announced coverage for hemp grown for fiber, flower or seeds.  The cove...

Most farmers get their crop insurance premium bill sent to them this time of year, with a pay-by date of September 30th.  And if that premium is not paid by October 1st, farmers start to get interest charges added to their bill.   “It's a percent and a quarter a month, so it can start adding up. You know these...

One crop that it seems like everyone is watching, is hemp.  Now that it’s legal, thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, how is the USDA going to insure it?   Stephanie Ho recently sat down with the RMA to find out.         If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekradio.com...

On Monday, the RMA announced several enhancements to the Dairy Revenue Protection, Livestock Gross Margin and Livestock Risk Protection Programs.  RMA Administrator Martin Barbre said the changes "strengthen risk management options and provide peace of mind in times of unpredictable market fluctuations."  T...