INTRODUCTION

Purpose

This report provides information on the expansion of crop insurance coverage to new and

specialty crops that has occurred from 2015 through 2018.

Authority

Section 508(a)(6)(B) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (Act) provides that the Corporation shall 

annually report to Congress on the expansion of crop insurance coverage to new and specialty 

crops.

Action

In accordance with the above provision of the Act, the Risk Management Agency (RMA) 

submits this report on behalf of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation.

This report contains information on the following key topics:

 Specialty Crop Insurance Overview

 New Product Development Process

 RMA Developed Specialty Crop Products

 Privately Developed Specialty Crop Products

 Specialty Crop Research and Development Efforts

 Consultation with Industry on Specialty Crop Risk Management Products 

 Challenges in New Product Development
Specialty Crop Definition

“Specialty crops” is a broad term that is defined differently throughout government. For purposes 

of this report, specialty crops are defined as specified in the Specialty Crops Competitiveness 

Act of 2004 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note), as modified by the Agricultural Act of 2014. This provides a 

definition of specialty crops as “fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture 

nursery crops (including floriculture).” 

The term “horticulture” in the broadest sense is the art and science of plant cultivation, which 

could include all crops. However, most definitions of horticulture are restricted to the science 

and art of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants, and this more restrictive 

definition is utilized for this report. The term “floriculture” includes crops such as bedding and 

garden plants, foliage plants, potted flowering plants, cut flowers, and cut cultivated greens. 

These definitions delineate specialty crops from other traditional agricultural row crops such as 

corn, soybeans, and wheat. The United States Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture 

Marketing Service (AMS) has a list1 of over 300 specialty crops. This list includes 47 fruits and 

tree nuts, 49 vegetables, 109 culinary and medicinal herbs, and 118 floriculture and nursery 

crops. This list is quite extensive, but not all-encompassing.

Specialty Crop Insurance

Tables 1 and 2 contain a listing of specialty crops identified as fruits and tree nuts and 

vegetables, as provided by AMS. The list denotes those crops that currently have crop insurance 

products. All these commodities are insurable under the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection 

insurance product, which provides a risk management safety net for all commodities on the farm 

under one insurance policy. However, crops that have individual coverage policies are starred. 

Table 1 – Fruits and Tree Nuts

Almond* Grape (including raisin)*

Apple* Guava

Apricot* Kiwi

Aronia Berry Litchi

Avocado* Macadamia*

Banana* Mandarins/Tangerines*

Blackberry Mango

Blueberry* Nectarine*

Breadfruit Olive*

Cacao Papaya*

Cashew Passion Fruit

Citrus* Peach*

Cherimoya Pear*

Cherry* Pecan*

 1 AMS Specialty Crops - https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp/specialty-crop
Chestnut (for nuts) Persimmon

Coconut Pineapple

Coffee* Pistachio*

Cranberry* Plum (including prune)*

Currant Pomegranate

Date Quince

Feijoa Raspberry*

Fig* Strawberry*

Filbert (hazelnut) Suriname cherry

Gooseberry Walnut*

Table 2 – Vegetables

Artichoke Mushroom (cultivated)

Asparagus Mustard* and other greens

Bean*

Snap or green

Lima

Dry, edible

Okra

Beet, table

Pea

Garden, English or edible pod

Dry, edible*

Broccoli (including broccoli raab) Onion*

Brussels sprouts Opuntia

Cabbage (including Chinese)* Parsley

Carrot Parsnip

Cauliflower Pepper*

Celeriac Potato*

Celery Pumpkin*

Chickpeas* Radish (all types)

Chive Rhubarb

Collards (including kale) Rutabaga

Cucumber* Salsify

Edamame Spinach

Eggplant Squash (summer and winter)

Endive Sweet corn*

Garlic Sweet potato*

Horseradish Swiss chard

Kohlrabi Taro

Leek Tomato (including tomatillo)*

Lentils* Turnip

Lettuce Watermelon

Melon (all types)

* Individual Crop Insurance Program
The RMA Portfolio Analysis2 indicates market penetration for fruit and nut crops encompassed 

74 percent of their market potential in 2015. The report also indicates U.S. vegetable market 

penetration was 34 percent in 2015, up slightly from 2011. The chart below indicates the total 

insured liability for specialty crops has grown steadily over the past 15 years and coverage in 

2018 totaled more than $18 billion in insurance liability. Liability for the fruits, nuts, and trees

category declined in 2017 by about $1.7 billion. The liability decline is mostly attributed to a 

reduction in liabilities for almonds and pistachios. Though, insured acres increased for both 

crops, liability decreased due to lower prices and insureds selecting lower coverage levels. 

New Product Development Process 

The Federal Crop Insurance Act (Act) has established two pathways for the development of new 

crop insurance programs. RMA may internally develop products, and private parties may also 

develop products under the authority of section 508(h) of the Act. Once the program materials 

are developed, both RMA and privately developed products undergo the same review and 

approval process. 

 2 https://legacy.rma.usda.gov/pubs/2017/portfolio/portfolio.pdf

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Liability ($Billion)

Chart 1: FCIC Program Growth for Specialty Crops

Fruits/Nuts/Trees Nursery Vegetables AGR / WFRP
The ability of private party development of new products has led to the creation of many new 

risk management safety net insurance products for producers. With intensive producer and 

producer group input, these products provide risk management tools that are needed by 

producers. 

Section 508(h) of the Act provides the mechanism allowing private sector entities to propose an 

insurance plan for the FCIC portfolio of products stating, “...a person (including an approved 

insurance provider, a college or university, a cooperative or trade association, or any other 

person) may prepare for submission or propose to the Board other crop insurance policies and 

provisions of policies; and rates of premiums for multiple peril crop insurance...” 

The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 provided for an enhancement to the 508(h) 

process whereby the Board can choose to approve an advance partial payment for the 

development of a new product. Section 522(b)(2)(A) states, “...the Board may approve the 

request of an applicant for advance payment of a portion of reasonable research and development 

costs prior to submission and approval of the policy by the Board under section 508(h).” This 

ability to provide development funds early in the process allows private entities, who may not be 

able to afford to fully develop a product, the funds to use in the development process and

provides a new process that allows private entities to present an idea to the Board prior to 

development. This also provides an opportunity for feedback before significant funds are 

expended. The Board may also approve an additional partial advance payment for research and 

development costs if certain criteria are met; including, the intended policy will provide coverage 

for specialty crops.

All new products, whether they are RMA or private party developed products, must be approved 

by the Board through a set of procedures. All new products must meet the requirements in the 

Act as well as the requirements of 7 C.F.R. part 400.700, Subpart V, Submission of Policies, 

Provisions of Policies, Rates of Premium, and Non-Reinsured Supplemental Policies. Key 

revisions to the current Subpart V regulations, published in August 2016, concern the 

marketability of products. They include the requirement that applicants for privately developed 

products include an approved insurance provider (AIP) that has committed to be involved in the 

development and submission process and to market, sell, and service the product. Additionally, 

privately developed products must include a marketability assessment from the applicant AIP 

and from at least one other AIP, which includes information such as an assessment of whether 

producers will buy the product and an analysis of the complexity of the product. The Agriculture 

Act of 2014 also required consultation with specialty crop producers during new product 

development, and this requirement was also included in the new Subpart V regulation. The 

consultation provisions are in place to assure that products will be marketable and accepted by 

producers and to improve the efficiency of the process since significant costs are required to

develop and implement a new crop insurance product.

It is important to note that legislation prohibits FCIC from offering a pilot program that would 

compete with coverage that is already generally available in the private sector. The Act 

states, “...the Corporation shall not conduct any pilot program that provides insurance protection 

against a risk if insurance protection against the risk is generally available from private 

companies.” Therefore, a part of the new product process is to determine if private products for 

the coverage exist to assure the government does not undermine these products.
RMA Developed Products for Specialty Crops

Evaluations of RMA developed products are performed to determine if RMA is providing sound, 

effective risk management programs that meet the needs of agricultural producers. The 

evaluation includes identifying any problem areas or issues with the program; determining 

acceptability of the program to producers, approved insurance providers, and other interested 

parties; and determining if the program is actuarially sound. The evaluation results will be used 

to determine whether the program should be continued as pilot, modified, terminated, or 

converted to a permanent program. Since calendar year 2015, RMA presented the Board with 

evaluation results for the following specialty crop programs: ARH Strawberry, California 

Avocado, Pistachio, Hawaii Tropical Fruit, and Hawaii Tropical Tree. The following 

information provides the evaluation activity undertaken by RMA.

Evaluation Results

ARH Strawberry

The ARH Strawberry program is offered in six counties in California. Four of the counties 

account for 89 percent of the California total strawberry acres, according to the 2012 agricultural 

census. RMA presented evaluation results of the ARH Strawberry pilot program to the Board in 

February 2016. The evaluation indicated low program participation due to several factors; 

including, lack of awareness of the program, difficulty appreciating how the policy might 

contribute to risk management, and the absence of significant production or revenue risks. Based 

on the evaluation results, the Board approved continuation of the pilot program for an additional 

two years along with expansion to San Luis Obispo County, California. In February 2018, the 

Board approved the continuation of the ARH Strawberry pilot program for one additional crop 

year. RMA is currently working with growers in strawberry growing regions to explore 

improvements to and expansion of the program to meet grower needs. 

Crop 

Year

Policies 

Earning 

Premium

Policies 

Indemnified Acres Liabilities

Total 

Premium Indemnity

Loss 

Ratio

2014 1 0 26 $325,080 $22,344 - 0.0

2015 11 1 1378 $22,033,781 $718,898 $110,719 0.2

2016 15 0 972 $22,048,422 $970,829 - 0.0

2017 5 0 227 $4,882,955 $89,021 - 0.0

2018 11 0 227 $4,345,154 $206,111 - 0.0

Pistachio

The Pistachio program is available in California, Arizona, and New Mexico. Production is 

primarily focused in California, with Arizona and New Mexico accounting for a relatively small 
volume of production primarily counties in the southern San Joaquin Valley. Fresno, Kern, 

Madera, and Tulare counties account for 85 percent of the average California production in 2013 

and 2014. Most of the remaining production occurs in the Sacramento Valley. Arizona and New 

Mexico account for a relatively small volume of production - just 2 percent in 2014. An 

evaluation of the Pistachio program was conducted in July 2015. The report provided that 

participation has gradually increased over the pilot program’s lifetime 146,173 acres insured in 

2017. Buy-up participation is limited by the ability of some of the larger growers to self-insure 

or to reduce yield risk by operating in several different regions. Some larger growers continue to 

purchase catastrophic coverage. The Board approved continuing the pilot program with 

modifications.

Crop 

Year

Policies 

Earning 

Premium

Policies 

Indemnified Acres Liabilities

Total 

Premium Indemnity

Loss 

Ratio

2014 442 83 92,467 $295,969,682 $11,495,177 $19,961,004 1.3

2015 486 276 105,268 $431,109,208 $15,669,736 $193,092,663 4.3

2016 586 19 138,495 $899,210,713 $47,242,228 $1,876,793 .4

2017 609 101 146,173 $337,099,420 $20,627,903 $13,397,242 .4

2018 640 0 167,322 $557,301,602 $42,946,570 $1,344,064 .03

California Avocado

The California Avocado APH program offers fruit-yield-only coverage for producers of 

avocados of the Hass (including Lamb-Hass) variety, which is the dominant type grown in the 

pilot counties. An evaluation of the program indicated the current Actual Production History plan 

of insurance has worked better than the previous revenue plan. The evaluation indicated an 

insurance plan for California avocados is a beneficial risk management tool for growers with a 

recommendation to convert the pilot to a permanent program. Based on evaluation results, the 

Board approved the conversion of the California Avocado pilot program to a permanent

program. For the 2017 crop year, 867 policies earned premium and 31,581 acres of avocado 

orchards were insured in California. RMA completed the rulemaking process to convert the pilot 

to a permanent program. 

Crop 

Year

Policies 

Earning 

Premium

Policies 

Indemnified Acres Liabilities

Total 

Premium Indemnity

Loss 

Ratio

2014 1,011 289 36,014 $80,413,839 $9,195,264 $6,458,021 0.7

2015 952 247 34,786 $79,989,786 $7,870,235 $5,219,160 0.7

2016 901 140 33,287 $74,264,958 $5,530,176 $2,085,058 0.4

2017 867 266 31,581 $76,979,301 $5,296,770 $10,424,671 2.0

2018 849 112 30,971 $76,081,389 $4,935,469 $3,616,465 0.7

Hawaii Tropical Fruit

RMA evaluated the Hawaii Tropical Fruit (HTF) program, which insures banana and papaya 

tropical fruits for the fresh market, as well as, coffee for processing. The HTF program is 

available in Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai, and Maui Counties. Participation in the program by coffee 
producers has increased since pilot inception in 2007. Most policies have buy-up coverage. The 

price and demand have steadily increased over the program’s lifetime. However, participation by 

banana and papaya growers has been limited. In 2016, 0.6 percent of banana acres and 10 

percent of papaya acres were enrolled in the program. Low participation of these producers may 

be tied to industry decline and foreign competition. Results of the evaluation were presented at 

the August 2018 FCIC Board of Directors meeting, and the Board approved the continuation of 

the pilot program with policy modifications until the program has been made permanent. 

Banana Fruit

Crop 

Year

Policies 

Earning 

Premium

Policies 

Indemnified Acres Liabilities

Total 

Premium Indemnity

Loss 

Ratio

2014 4 0 409 $1,486,924 $36,307 - 0

2015 4 0 199 $718,988 $7,697 - 0

2016 2 0 5 $32,236 $807 - 0

2017 2 0 130 $764,312 $4,049 - 0

2018 2 0 379 $1,176,628 $25,926 - 0

Papaya Fruit

Crop 

Year

Policies 

Earning 

Premium

Policies 

Indemnified Acres Liabilities

Total 

Premium Indemnity

Loss 

Ratio

2014 6 2 57 $241,573 $3,997 $55,184 13.8

2015 8 1 351 $1,794,545 $46,255 $200,167 4.3

2016 6 3 185 $1,111,281 $26,548 $49,232 1.9

2017 4 1 233 $1,339,802 $32,381 $40,671 1.3

2018 4 1 145 $904,087 $22,885 $104,822 4.6

Coffee Fruit

Crop 

Year

Policies 

Earning 

Premium

Policies 

Indemnified Acres Liabilities

Total 

Premium Indemnity

Loss 

Ratio

2014 66 11 3,833 $8,542,238 $269,108 $168,117 0.6

2015 72 22 4,019 $12,374,851 $378,319 $393,112 1.0

2016 87 26 4,334 $15,932,790 $428,155 $458,893 1.0

2017 81 9 4,329 $16,803,312 $412,513 $66,213 0.2

2018 78 6 4,314 $19,519,005 $424,493 $232,121 0.6
Hawaii Tropical Tree

RMA evaluated the Hawaii Tropical Tree Pilot Crop Insurance Program. This pilot program 

provides coverage for coffee, papaya, and banana tree values if lost due to an insurable cause. 

The program is available in Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai, and Maui Counties. The program includes 

the Occurrence Loss Option for coffee trees that changes the deductible from a per-unit basis to a 

per-tree basis, once the amount of dead or destroyed trees has exceeded a certain percentage. It 

also includes the Comprehensive Tree Value endorsement for coffee and papaya trees which 

determines a present and future value for destroyed or fully damaged trees until the replacement 

tree reaches the productive age of the dead or destroyed tree. The program has experienced low 

participation among banana and papaya orchardists. However, participation for almost all coffee 

policies have been at the buy-up coverage level. Results of the evaluation were presented at the 

August 2018 FCIC Board of Directors meeting and the Board approved the continuation of the 

pilot program with policy modifications until the program has been made permanent. 

Banana Tree

Crop 

Year

Policies 

Earning 

Premium

Policies 

Indemnified Trees Liabilities

Total 

Premium Indemnity

Loss 

Ratio

2014 1 0 46,670 $462,034 $26,193 - 0

2015 1 0 83,020 $684,915 $19,029 - 0

2016 1 0 83,020 $512,233 $14,231 - 0

2017 0 0 - $0 $0 - 0

2018 2 0 83,586 $508,085 $14,291 - 0

Papaya Tree

Crop 

Year

Policies 

Earning 

Premium

Policies 

Indemnified Trees Liabilities

Total 

Premium Indemnity

Loss 

Ratio

2014 3 1 24,161 $132,899 $3,793 $3,690 1.0

2015 8 4 36,450 $345,035 $6,467 $37,506 5.8

2016 8 0 35,032 $331,142 $4,575 - 0.0

2017 6 2 48,130 $402,948 $4,676 $21,843 4.7

2018 3 1 23,929 $182,628 $2,022 $44,280 21.9
Coffee Tree

Crop 

Year

Policies 

Earning 

Premium

Policies 

Indemnified Trees Liabilities

Total 

Premium Indemnity

Loss 

Ratio

2014 26 0 3,967,960 $14,023,459 $48,774 - 0.0

2015 37 0 4,157,325 $17,643,827 $58,028 - 0.0

2016 36 0 4,405,361 $21,347,029 $77,703 - 0.0

2017 29 0 4,425,070 $20,943,791 $85,272 - 0.0

2018 26 0 4,224,374 $18,967,088 $71,468 - 0.0

Whole Farm Revenue Protection

RMA also offers the Whole Farm Revenue Protection insurance program, which was recently 

expanded as the first Federal crop insurance program to be available in every state and county in 

the U.S. The program was specifically developed for farms that tend to sell to direct, local or 

regional, farm-identity preserved markets, and farms that grow specialty crops and animals and 

animal products. Continual policy and procedural refinements have been made to the program to 

address producer needs. Such program modifications include improving access to the program 

for beginning farmers and ranchers and clarifying policy provisions to address producer and 

industry inquiries concerning the program. 

Whole Farm Revenue Protection

Crop 

Year

Policies 

Earning 

Premium

Policies 

Indemnified Liabilities

Total 

Premium Indemnity

Loss 

Ratio

2015 1,122 341 $1,146,041,944 $53,017,588 $69,994,423 1.3202 

2016 2,198 688 $2,327,297,534 $118,318,260 $172,762,736 1.4602 

2017 2,740 599 $2,858,753,695 $144,478,620 $93,417,621 0.6466 

2018 2,488 86 $2,674,559,173 $139,096,456 $1,892,971 0.01

Privately Developed Products for Specialty Crops 

There has been progress toward expanding crop insurance coverage to specialty crops. New 

specialty crop programs have originated utilizing the mechanism provided by the Act whereby a 

private sector entity can propose an insurance plan to be added to the FCIC portfolio of products. 

This pathway has also been used for refinements to specialty crop programs to address producer 

needs. Since 2015, progress in expanding and modifying coverage has been achieved for the 

following specialty crops: Clary Sage, Pecan Tree, Texas Citrus Trees, Machine Harvested 

Cucumbers, Olives, Peanuts, and Sugarcane. The following provides information on new and 

modified specialty crop products developed by private entities.
New Crop Insurance Products from 2015 to 2016

Clary Sage

The Board approved the Clary Sage program in May 2015, which was implemented for the 2016 

crop year. The program is offered in four North Carolina counties and is an Actual Production 

History product design that provides coverage for loss of yield. Sclareol is a chemical compound 

found in the clary sage plant that is used as a fragrance fixative for many products, including 

detergents, cosmetics, and perfumes. Insurance is provided for loss of sclareol yield, as long as 

the damage is due to adverse weather conditions or other causes specified in the policy occurring 

within the insurance period. To be eligible for coverage, producers must have a contract with a 

processor and the amount of coverage provided per acre is based on a producer's sclareol

production history.

Crop 

Year

Policies 

Earning 

Premium

Policies 

Indemnified Acres Liabilities

Total 

Premium Indemnity

Loss 

Ratio

2016 76 34 17,834 $12,575,836 $1,350,822 $1,702,195 1.3

2017 85 32 22,025 $15,355,721 $1,671,367 $1,670,009 1.0

2018 78 10 12,918 $8,172,242 $882,803 $216,137 0.2

Pecan Tree

The Pecan Tree plan of insurance was approved by the Board in June 2016 and was implemented 

for the 2018 crop year. The program protects against unavoidable naturally occurring damage to 

native and improved variety pecan trees. The program compensates producers for the costs of 

rehabilitating or replacing damaged trees, and for the value of lost future production due to 

damage from insurable causes. The program is offered in select counties for the irrigated 

practice, non-irrigated practice, or both in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, 

Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas. The 

program offers an optional Comprehensive Tree Value Endorsement which provides coverage 

for the value of lost production due to damage from insurable causes. It also offers an 

Occurrence Loss Option which shifts the deductible from the unit to the tree level, allowing 

indemnities to be paid on shallow losses once a minimum loss threshold has been met. Premium 

rates were generally reduced for the 2019 crop year based on damage observations of Hurricane 

Irma on impacted areas where pecan tree orchards were located.

Crop 

Year

Policies 

Earning 

Premium

Policies 

Indemnified Trees Liabilities

Total 

Premium Indemnity

Loss 

Ratio

2018 16 0 54,943 $5,203,906 $25,269 - -
Modifications to Crop Insurance Products from 2015 to 2018

Texas Citrus Trees 

The Tree Dollar Amount of Insurance (TDO) Texas Citrus Tree crop insurance product covers 

damage to or loss of trees. It provides coverage for grapefruit, tangerine and orange trees in 

Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy Counties, Texas. The TDO plan of insurance establishes a dollar 

amount of insurance per tree based on its stage of development. The stages of development 

generally describe a tree recently set out in the grove or extensively reworked (stage I), a tree in 

an intermediate phase between set out and full production (stage II), and one capable of full 

production (stage III). Under the base policy, losses are paid on the unit when the damage value 

exceeds the insured’s selected deductible. In May 2015, the Board approved a modification to 

the program to add Lime Trees as a covered crop. In August 2018, the Board approved several 

modifications to the program; including adding lemon trees as an insurable type in select Texas 

counties; providing an option to select a percent of the price election for all citrus trees by type;

and allowing enterprise units to insure all acreage of the same tree crop in the county under one 

unit.

Crop 

Year Crop

Policies 

Earning 

Premium

Policies 

Indemnified Trees Liabilities

Total 

Premium Indemnity

Loss 

Ratio

2014 Grapefruit 

Trees 675 1 6,719,528 $178,676,642 $4,773,227 $5,388 0

2014 Orange Trees 2,204 2 56,117,772 $1,311,733,107 $20,684,489 $32,996 0

2014 Tangerine 

Trees 12 0 16,935 $393,574 $15,189 - 0

2015 Grapefruit 

Trees 635 0 6,825,232 $185,634,150 $5,036,399 - 0

2015 Orange Trees 2,008 1 55,775,303 $1,273,439,667 $19,903,099 $47,703 0

2015 Tangerine 

Trees 10 0 8,997 $318,907 $14,222 - 0

2016 Grapefruit 

Trees 582 0 6,135,827 $178,972,179 $4,591,034 - 0

2016 Lime Trees 2 0 73,940 $570,065 $13,745 - 0

2016 Orange Trees 1,793 1 51,959,370 $1,217,465,170 $14,222,251 $94,413 0

2016 Tangerine 

Trees 9 0 8,523 $382,909 $16,517 - 0

2017 Grapefruit 

Trees 516 0 5,644,992 $163,429,926 $3,972,299 - 0

2017 Lime Trees 3 0 98,752 $737,755 $14,843 - 0

2017 Orange Trees 1,545 0 47,237,142 $1,077,818,252 $12,244,237 - 0

2017 Tangerine 

Trees 9 0 8,681 $410,776 $16,343 - 0

2018 Grapefruit 

Trees 451 35 5,192,830 $165,959,485 $4,195,500 $3,526,206 .84

2018 Orange Trees 1,366 160 46,136,884 $1,128,053,885 $11,944,986 $24,840,165 2.08

2018 Tangerine 

Trees 10 0 8,620 $380,613 $14,232 - 0
Machine Harvested Cucumbers

The Machine Harvested Cucumber plan of insurance covers producers of machine harvested 

cucumbers who have production contracts with processors or shippers. The insurance covers 

pickling cucumbers at five different grade levels. In November 2016, the Board approved a 

modification to the program, in the form of an expansion to the states of Alabama, Florida, 

Indiana, and Wisconsin. This is in addition to the states of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, 

Michigan, North Carolina, and Texas where the program is also offered. 

Crop 

Year

Policies 

Earning 

Premium

Policies 

Indemnified Acres Liabilities

Total 

Premium Indemnity

Loss 

Ratio

2014 85 15 25,836 $18,539,534 $1,393,676 $1,495,205 0.6

2015 92 37 28,250 $19,335,193 $1,495,551 $1,538,230 0.9

2016 81 42 24,898 $17,576,809 $1,436,979 $1,908,560 1.1

2017 92 33 23,831 $17,185,561 $1,412,186 $668,407 0.6

2018 82 37 20,701 $14,794,387 $1,280,735 $1,289,641 1.0

Olives

The Olive Actual Production History plan of insurance was approved by the Board in September 

2011 and implemented for the 2012 crop year in 12 California counties. In August 2017, the

Board approved modifications to the program in the form of an expansion to 4 additional 

California counties as well as the addition of quality adjustment for oil type olives. Quality 

adjustment compensates oil type olive producers for financial losses that occur for lower quality 

olives due to an insured cause of loss. These modifications were implemented for the 2018 crop 

year. 

Crop 

Year

Policies 

Earning 

Premium

Policies 

Indemnified Acres Liabilities

Total 

Premium Indemnity

Loss 

Ratio

2014 464 255 25,915 $28,927,220 $2,912,161 $7,330,611 2.5

2015 453 81 26,294 $37,350,381 $3,546,276 $1,649,401 0.5

2016 412 70 24,650 $29,417,572 $2,941,980 $1,425,329 0.5

2017 393 16 24,285 $36,321,391 $3,619,651 $516,085 0.1

2018 345 236 22,314 $35,542,891 $3,424,417 $15,348,177 4.5

Sugarcane

The Board approved several privately developed modifications to the Sugarcane Actual 

Production History plan. The program provides insurance protection for sugarcane grown for 

processing for sugar or for seed in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. A modification to the policy 

was approved for the 2017 crop year included adding coverage to protect against overwintering 

damage to stubble cane damaged the previous crop year. Modifications approved for the 2018 
crop year included simplifying the appraisal process by allowing sugarcane exceeding age 

limitations in the Special Provisions of Insurance to be insured without an appraisal, provided the 

acreage comprises less than 10 percent of the acreage in the unit. A Crop Replacement 

Endorsement was also implemented in Louisiana which provides a replacement payment for 

plant and first year stubble cane when damaged by insured causes of loss that must be replaced 

before the end of its useful life. 

Crop 

Year

Policies 

Earning 

Premium

Policies 

Indemnified Acres Liabilities

Total 

Premium Indemnity

Loss 

Ratio

2014 668 101 584,103 $257,585,541 $7,183,102 $3,442,443 0.4

2015 661 83 760,351 $226,401,251 $3,697,228 $978,332 0.2

2016 694 58 782,388 $263,589,190 $3,962,402 $1,081,518 0.2

2017 714 50 767,597 $320,974,298 $5,864,021 $854,704 0.2

2018 734 24 789,418 $358,125,400 $6,731,112 $692,073 0.0

Specialty Crop Research and Development Efforts

Prior to conducting research and development initiatives, RMA works with local producers, 

grower groups, universities, and government agencies to determine potential candidates for new 

crop insurance program development.

As required by the Act, RMA consults with groups representing producers of agricultural 

commodities that would be served by the policies that are the subject of research and 

development efforts. In addition to the initial consultation and communication by the Regional 

Offices, RMA fulfills this legislative requirement by issuing a notice of intent to pursue the 

feasibility and research into the potential development of a product. The notice requests 

interested parties provide any preparatory input regarding the level of interest in participating in 

a particular crop insurance program, types of risk and perils facing affected producers, and the 

potential availability of yield and price data. Interested parties provide RMA information 

regarding producer interest in crop insurance programs as well as comments on policy structure 

or other risk management options available. If sufficient interest is indicated, further research 

and development may be conducted for a new commodity. 

Consultation Outreach for Risk Management Safety Net Programs

Vegetable and Flower Seed Insurance:

In December 2015, RMA issued a notice of intent for research and development of a vegetable 

and flower seed crop insurance program. The notice was shared with flower and vegetable seed 

contacts in the Spokane, WA region, including 42 growers/grower group representatives. Several 

of the contacts inquired about a vegetable and flower seed program in past years. However, 

insufficient data was obtained to pursue further research and development efforts.
Garlic Insurance:

In June 2016, RMA issued a notice of intent for research and development of a garlic crop 

insurance program. Sufficient information was obtained to pursue further research and 

development. In October 2016, RMA executed a contracted data gathering study to determine 

the feasibility of developing a garlic crop insurance program. The contract required data 

collection and analysis, conducting of stakeholder listening sessions, and needs assessment. The 

results of the contracted study were submitted March 2017. The study indicated several issues 

with developing a garlic insurance program; particularly, regarding concerns with determining 

insurable interest between the handler/grower and producer. Based on the information provided, 

RMA did not pursue research and development of a garlic program.

General Consultation with Industry on Specialty Crop Risk

Management Products:

RMA met with several stakeholders to discuss the specialty crops programs and gather 

information on needs and interests of producers. Results of those meetings are listed below.

In April 2015, RMA conducted several listening sessions with producers and other stakeholders 

to discuss the Whole Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) program. The sessions were held in 

Gap, Pennsylvania; Ghent, New York; Middletown, New York; Marlboro, Massachusetts; and 

Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. RMA obtained feedback on several components of the program to 

learn of needed modifications to meet producer needs. Several issues were discussed, including 

ways to make the program available to new and beginning farmers, challenges producers face in 

record keeping, and program reporting requirements. Following discussions, RMA modified the 

WFRP program to allow more beginning farmer and ranchers to qualify for the program and 

implemented adjustments to record keeping and reporting requirements for direct marketers.

In June 2016, RMA traveled throughout the California strawberry growing regions to meet with 

strawberry growers, staff with the Farm Service Agency and representatives of Western 

Growers, which is an organization representing local and regional farmers growing fresh produce 

in Arizona, California, Colorado, and New Mexico. During the meetings, RMA provided an 

overview of the ARH Strawberry pilot program and clarified several provisions of the policy. 

Topics of organics, irrigation, substrate propagation, planting practices, and the long season for 

harvesting fruit were a few of the highlighted discussions in the field. During the meetings, 

growers requested further clarification regarding policy provisions that were deemed to not 

correlate with the common cultural practices within the growing regions. RMA continues to 

work with the industry to explore options to address the concerns raised with the program.

In April 2017, RMA met with agents and seed companies in Caldwell and Nampa, Idaho to 

discuss the Hybrid Sweet Corn Seed pilot program. RMA provided education on how the 

program operates and received stakeholder input on requested program changes, including 

expansion. The meetings helped RMA better structure the hybrid sweet corn seed program for 

the growers in the region through gaining crop specific and regional information associated with 

the pilot program and the proposed revisions. RMA also received requests from growers and 

seed companies to expand the program into Klickitat County, Washington, covering an 

additional 500 acres of production. The requested program changes and expansion were 
evaluated and presented to the Board in May 2017. The Board approved the changes, which were

implemented beginning with the 2018 crop year. 

RMA consulted with representatives of the apple industry several times in 2017 to gauge and 

address needs. From March to August, RMA met with growers, state agriculture department 

representatives, and other stakeholders in several states to discuss the apple program. Discussion 

topics surrounded issues with the quality option which provides additional protection for loss of 

quality to apples grown for fresh fruit that do not grade U.S. fancy or better, the apple grading 

standards used in program administration, and the need to review the grading standards for 

updating. RMA also contracted a study of the apple policy with a focus on the quality option in 

areas where the program has experienced consistent high loss ratios. RMA will review 

recommended changes from the study for inclusion in the apple program.

RMA began an assessment on the onion crop program in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas in 

April 2018. The assessment consisted of field visits, program policy file reviews, and listening 

sessions with producers. RMA also participated in a weeklong tour of the area in May 2018, 

visiting onion fields, touring an onion shed, and meeting with local industry personnel. Rio 

Fresh, one of the oldest family farming and packing operations in south Texas, provided RMA a 

tour of their recently built onion packing facility. The vegetable specialist for Texas A&M 

AgriLife Extension Service presented RMA with historical facts for onions in the area. The 

overall experience afforded RMA the opportunity to gain field knowledge and understand onion 

production and marketing in Texas. RMA was able to talk to producers, agents, and crop 

insurance company personnel, as well as industry personnel who were able to provide RMA 

feedback of the current onion program. As a result of discussions with growers and other 

stakeholders, RMA revised the onion prevented planting coverage level percentage in select 

states and counties and revised the insured price election in Texas counties for the 2019 crop 

year. With the knowledge gained, RMA will also further evaluate the program and recommend 

changes to maintain integrity of the onion program in the area. 

In July 2018, RMA attended the 2018 Texas Pecan Growers Association meeting in San Marcos, 

Texas and participated in a round table discussion on the pecan crop insurance program. Several 

components of the program were discussed; including, the minimum production requirement and 

comparable counties used for written agreements. Several program recommendations were 

produced from the discussion, and RMA is following up on some of the specific cited producer 

issues. The group also discussed pecan production, in general, including irrigation practices, 

disease and pest control measures, and pruning practices. RMA also toured three pecan orchards 

near Smithville, Texas. RMA learned of several management practices followed in the orchards. 

Based on information from the Texas Pecan Growers Association, RMA changed the production 

requirement for insurability to correspond with existing production practices. For the 2018 crop 

year, RMA changed the policy to require that for all non-irrigated pecan acreage and for all 

irrigated native pecan acreage, the insured crop must be grown on trees that have produced at 

least 300 pounds of pecans in at least one of the previous four crop years.

RMA also implemented a change to the Blueberry policy, effective for the 2018 crop year in 

select California counties, to insure organic blueberries grown in pots, using prescribed methods. 
Summary

Over the past few years, RMA completed 5 evaluations of specialty crop pilot programs to 

identify appropriate program modifications needed to address problem areas and propose 

recommendations that equitably impact producers, insurance providers, and RMA. RMA 

performed reviews and analyses of privately submitted products, which aided the Board in 

approving 7 privately developed specialty crop products, including product modifications. RMA 

also conducted numerous outreach efforts with several stakeholders to discuss the Agency’s 

specialty crops programs and gather information on needs and interests of producers.

RMA recognizes as new trends in the agriculture market continue to emerge, the way RMA 

accomplishes its mission may need to change as well. RMA will continue its focus on refining 

and developing programs to meet the needs of specialty crop producers. It will be important to 

assess the risk management needs of emerging sectors of agriculture such as urban, suburban,

hydroponic, and indoor farming. RMA is committed to continuing to explore and expand farm 

safety net options for specialty crop producers.

Table 3 lists all insured specialty crops acreage for 2017 along with the total acreage and percent 

participation by state. 

Table 4 lists expansions of specialty crop programs for crop years 2015 to 2017.
TABLE 3: TOTAL ACRES, YEAR - 2017 Almonds Apples Apricots

State ▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona 270

Arkansas

California 756,937 1,000,000 76% 4,819 13,500 36% 5,041 8,800 57%

Colorado 484

Connecticut 799 1,800 44%

Delaware

Florida

Georgia 24

Hawaii

Idaho 1,451 2,100 69% 8

Illinois 435 1,700 26%

Indiana 365

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine 1,176 3,000 39%

Maryland 874 1,600 55%

Massachusetts 1,130 2,600 43%

Michigan 22,731 33,000 69%

Minnesota 397 2,600 15%

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana 736

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire 573

New Jersey 322 2,400 13%

New Mexico 18

New York 32,226 40,000 81%

North Carolina 4,507 5,000 90%

North Dakota

Ohio 1,194 3,200 37%

Oklahoma

Oregon 1,587 5,000 32%

Other States category

Pennsylvania 11,778 20,000 59%

Rhode Island 70

South Carolina 90

South Dakota

Tennessee 50

Texas

Utah 351

Vermont 986 1,700 58%

Virginia 5,266

Washington 127,688 165,000 77% 677 1,200 56%

West Virginia 1,169 4,800 24%

Wisconsin 1,045 4,000 26%

Wyoming

Unites States 756,937 1,000,000 76% 136,505 173,800 76% 677 1,200 56%

*2015 most recent by NASS
TABLE 3: TOTAL ACRES, YEAR - 2017 Avocados Beans, Fresh Snap Blueberries

State ▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼

Alabama 11

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California 31,581 50,700 62% 4,500* 4,048 6,600 61%

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida 2,294 5,500 42% 29,500* 3,489 5,200 67%

Georgia 10,800* 13,775 8,800 156%

Hawaii 380

Idaho 

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana 151

Maine 10,419

Maryland 880*

Massachusetts

Michigan 3,100* 12,485 20,000 62%

Minnesota

Mississippi 337 1,500 22%

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey 2,600* 6,617 10,000 66%

New Mexico

New York 1,981 10,900* 18% 800

North Carolina 2,295 4,800* 48% 7,984 6,300 127%

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon 3,255 11,700 28%

Other States category

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina 600*

South Dakota

Tennessee 8,000*

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia 609 2,000* 30%

Washington 4,765 13,700 35%

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Unites States 33,875 56,580 60% 4,885 77,680 6% 67,336 84,600 80%

*2015 most recent by NASS
TABLE 3: TOTAL ACRES, YEAR - 2017 Cabbage, Fresh Cherries Chile Peppers

State ▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona 5,900 765 1,400 55%

Arkansas

California 14,900 28,334 33,000 86% 7,100

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida 1,934 8,000 24%

Georgia 2,181 4,900 45%

Hawaii

Idaho 20

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan 2,067 4,300 48% 12,985 33,800 38%

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana 206

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico 972 8,100 12%

New York 4,476 8,800 51% 462 1,400 33%

North Carolina 950 2,600 37%

North Dakota

Ohio 260

Oklahoma

Oregon 13 6,142 13,000 47%

Other States category

Pennsylvania 9

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas 1,378 6,500 21% 3,400

Utah 2,185 3,100 70%

Vermont

Virginia 69

Washington 32,341 42,500 76%

West Virginia

Wisconsin 1,468 6,100 24% 1,107 1,500 74%

Wyoming

Unites States 14,805 62,000 24% 83,782 128,300 65% 1,737 20,000 9%

*2015 most recent by NASS
TABLE 3: TOTAL ACRES, YEAR – 2017 Citrus Fruit Cranberries Cucumbers, Process

State ▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼

Alabama 369

Alaska

Arizona 6,118 7,300 84%

Arkansas

California 225,301 267,400 84%

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware 1,507

Florida 310,762 410,700 76% 829 18,280 5%

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho 

Illinois

Indiana 4,131

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland 1,352

Massachusetts 10,227 12,300 83%

Michigan 14,463 30,000 48%

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey 1,275 2,500 51%

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina 575

North Dakota

Ohio 5,000

Oklahoma

Oregon 1,231 2,800 44%

Other States category 24,430

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island 92

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas 17,714 24,400 73% 3,143 4,150 76%

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington 457 1,500 30%

West Virginia

Wisconsin 19,055 20,600 93% 923 5,600 16%

Wyoming

Unites States 559,895 709,800 79% 32,337 39,700 81% 27,292 87,460 31%

*2015 most recent by NASS
TABLE 3: TOTAL ACRES, YEAR - 2017 Dry Bean Dry Peas/Lentils Figs

State ▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct. RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct. RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona 6,813

Arkansas

California 22,012 4,563 6,100 75%

Colorado 43,338 3,606

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho 22,019 180,000 12% 157,483 50,000 315%

Illinois

Indiana 139

Iowa

Kansas 9,699 3,708

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan 182,511 220,000 83%

Minnesota 165,036 170,000 97% 3,854

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana 3,591 275,000 1% 1,374,837 1,255,000 110%

Nebraska 163,422 180,000 91% 33,709 58,000 58%

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico 6,818

New York 3,599

North Carolina

North Dakota 649,008 705,000 92% 706,498 695,000 102%

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon 4,184 4,250 7,000 61%

Other States category

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota 4,620 49,873 38,000 131%

Tennessee

Texas 4,728 22,000 21% 343

Utah 1,470

Vermont

Virginia

Washington 15,741 196,000 8% 261,120 129,000 202%

West Virginia

Wisconsin 3,646 429

Wyoming 32,829 41,000 80%

Unites States 1,345,223 1,989,000 68% 2,599,710 2,232,000 116% 4,563 6,100 75%

*2015 most recent by NASS
TABLE 3: TOTAL ACRES, YEAR - 2017 Grapes, All Green Peas, Processing Mint-Peppermint

State ▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona 67

Arkansas 2

California 545,435 829,000 66% 668 1,500 45%

Colorado 304

Connecticut

Delaware 2,246

Florida

Georgia 165

Hawaii

Idaho 589 2,853 18,000 16%

Illinois 2 2,165

Indiana 5,289 8,500 62%

Iowa 771

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland 13 1,843

Massachusetts

Michigan 9,251 12,500 74% 199 1,474

Minnesota 48 45,538 48,400* 94%

Mississippi

Missouri 22 1,700 1%

Montana

Nebraska 33

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York 18,736 35,000 54% 8,108

North Carolina 313 2,300 14%

North Dakota

Ohio 154 1,400 11%

Oklahoma

Oregon 6,063 24,000 25% 13,705 16,300* 84% 536 18,000 30%

Other States category 14,700*

Pennsylvania 8,762 13,000 67%

Rhode Island 100

South Carolina 70

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas 1,833 5,500 33%

Utah

Vermont 24

Virginia 41 3,300 1%

Washington 57,804 73,000 79% 31,699 33,600* 94% 7,236 12,000 60%

West Virginia

Wisconsin 11,085 28,200* 39% 775 2,800 28%

Wyoming

Unites States 649,677 1,000,700 65% 117,359 141,200 83% 18,831 60,800 31%

*2016 most recent by NASS
TABLE 3: TOTAL ACRES, YEAR - 2017 Mint - Spearmint Macadamia Nuts Mustard

State ▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii 11,985 16,000 75%

Idaho 81 4,765

Illinois

Indiana 1,261 3,100 41%

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan 1,442

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana 48,675 52,000* 94%

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota 9,683

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon 2,500

Other States category 2,700 51,100*

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington 4,856 14,000 35%

West Virginia

Wisconsin 158

Wyoming

Unites States 7,798 22,300 35% 11,985 16,000 75% 63,123 103,100 61%

*2016 most recent by NASS
TABLE 3: TOTAL ACRES, YEAR - 2017 Nectarines Olives Onions

State ▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California 14,051 18,000 78% 24,315 36,000 68% 18,290 48,800 37%

Colorado 2,692 3,900 69%

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia 10,819 11,600 93%

Hawaii

Idaho 71 4,748 8,100 59%

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas 172

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan 1,058

Minnesota 164

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada 3,420

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico 1,464 7,300 20%

New York 7,551 7,600 99%

North Carolina 91

North Dakota 1,062

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon 8,971 19,900 45%

Other States category

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas 19,145 12,000 160%

Utah 531

Vermont

Virginia

Washington 534 1,200 45% 20,611 24,000 86%

West Virginia

Wisconsin 315

Wyoming

Unites States 14,656 19,200 76% 24,315 36,000 68% 101,104 143,200 71%

*2016 most recent by NASS
TABLE 3: TOTAL ACRES, YEAR - 2017 Peaches Pears Pecans

State ▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼

Alabama 839 1,500 56% 2,313 8,400 28%

Alaska

Arizona 10 13,224 15,000 88%

Arkansas 204

California 33,478 40,200 83% 7,874 11,200 70% 1,310 3,300 40%

Colorado 1,829 2,500 73% 14

Connecticut 52 14

Delaware

Florida 94 575

Georgia 6,128 10,000 61% 84,707 120,000 71%

Hawaii

Idaho 639 880 73%

Illinois 729 1,200 61%

Indiana 66

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky 23

Louisiana 12 628 12,300 5%

Maine 1

Maryland 302 700 43%

Massachusetts 122 1

Michigan 2,200

Minnesota

Mississippi 51 1,580

Missouri 554 1,300 43%

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire 17

New Jersey 2,843 4,700 60%

New Mexico 28,892 43,500 66%

New York 438 1,600 27% 48

North Carolina 498 1,200 42% 1

North Dakota

Ohio 640

Oklahoma 85 3,063 86,000 4%

Oregon 56 10,236 14,400 71%

Other States category

Pennsylvania 1,573 4,000 39% 55

Rhode Island 5

South Carolina 11,271 13,000 87%

South Dakota

Tennessee 146

Texas 963 3,000 32% 26,530 89,000 30%

Utah 171 1,200 14%

Vermont 3 1,200 .3%

Virginia 914 142

Washington 649 2,100 31% 14,321 20,800 69%

West Virginia 386 950 41%

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Unites States 65,141 94,070 69% 32,716 46,400 71% 162,822 377,500 43%

*2016 most recent by NASS
TABLE 3: TOTAL ACRES, YEAR - 2017 Peppers, Bell Pistachios Plums/Prunes

State ▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona 1,802

Arkansas

California 16,000 144,228 250,000 58% 52,263 63,000 83%

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida 5,122 13,500 38%

Georgia 188 3,000 6%

Hawaii

Idaho 75

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan 1,900

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey 3,200

New Mexico 143

New York 900

North Carolina 2,400

North Dakota

Ohio 2,600

Oklahoma

Oregon 472

Other States category

Pennsylvania 950

Rhode Island

South Carolina 740

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington 153

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Unites States 6,050 44,450 14% 146,173 250,000 58% 52,963 63,000 84%

*2016 most recent by NASS
TABLE 3: TOTAL ACRES, YEAR – 2017 Potatoes Processing Beans Pumpkins

State ▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼

Alabama 727

Alaska 560

Arizona 3,270

Arkansas 680

California 21,319 41,700 51% 5,300

Colorado 34,490 55,900 62%

Connecticut 20

Delaware 881 8,009

Florida 23,551 29,000 81%

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho 209,922 310,000 68%

Illinois 589 8,600 7% 1,408 10,181 17,900 57%

Indiana 511 952 3,600* 26% 6,100

Iowa 415

Kansas 3,132 4,100 76%

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine 47,684 48,000 99%

Maryland 2,526 2,600 97% 3,219

Massachusetts 2,695

Michigan 31,807 50,000 64% 3,682 16,000* 23% 5,300

Minnesota 37,016 46,000 80% 1,228 930

Mississippi

Missouri 8,109 8,800 92%

Montana 6,019 11,100 54%

Nebraska 13,274 19,000 70%

Nevada 1,777

New Hampshire

New Jersey 318 2,000 16% 153 2,200

New Mexico 4,924

New York 8,981 14,500 62% 17,684 5,500

North Carolina 12,652 16,000 80% 700 3,500

North Dakota 68,231 75,000 91%

Ohio 202 6,700

Oklahoma 303

Oregon 23,100 46,000 50% 2,006 2,500

Other States category 100,350*

Pennsylvania 3,614 4,801 5,500* 87% 4,900

Rhode Island 12

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee 1,700

Texas 11,467 23,300 49% 430 4,600

Utah

Vermont

Virginia 3,889 5,000 78% 352 2,500

Washington 87,464 165,000 53% 1,205 2,300

West Virginia 18

Wisconsin 49,016 71,000 69% 42,344 69,200* 61% 1,300

Wyoming 590

Unites States 725,195 1,053,160 69% 84,491 194,650 43% 1,181 73,230 2%

*2015 most recent by NASS
TABLE 3: TOTAL ACRES, YEAR - 2017 Strawberries Sunflower, Confectionary Sweet Corn, Fresh

State ▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼

Alabama 411 1,200* 34%

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California 227 39,000 1,300 30,000*

Colorado 5,311 12,000 44% 1,206 3,500* 34%

Connecticut 942 3,900* 24%

Delaware 3,700*

Florida 10,800 24,099 41,500* 58%

Georgia 16,265 26,500* 61%

Hawaii

Idaho 

Illinois 6,600*

Indiana 5,500*

Iowa 225

Kansas 12,728 13,500 94%

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine 142 1,500* 9%

Maryland 39 3,700* 1%

Massachusetts 741 3,400* 22%

Michigan 9,500*

Minnesota 3,557 4,700 76%

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska 12,865 15,500 83% 25

Nevada

New Hampshire 210 1,400* 15%

New Jersey 759 6,000* 13%

New Mexico

New York 800 1,750 18,100* 10%

North Carolina 1,200 289 5,100* 6%

North Dakota 33,179 43,000 33,179

Ohio 15,500*

Oklahoma 1,974

Oregon 1,400 7,000*

Other States category 1,390*

Pennsylvania 1,328 10,300* 13%

Rhode Island 246

South Carolina

South Dakota 74,152 82,000 90%

Tennessee

Texas 7,476 15,000 50% 4,400*

Utah

Vermont 81

Virginia

Washington 900 3,000*

West Virginia

Wisconsin 3,900*

Wyoming 2,181

Unites States 227 54,100 .4% 153,423 187,000 82% 48,758 216,590 23%

*2015 most recent by NASS
TABLE 3: TOTAL ACRES, YEAR -

2017

Sweet Corn, Process Sweet Potatoes Tomatoes, Fresh

State ▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼

Alabama 1 1,200* 0%

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas 568 900* 63%

California 21,000 8,739 28,600* 31%

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware 5,954

Florida 16,443 33,000* 50%

Georgia 2,448 2,900* 84%

Hawaii

Idaho 

Illinois 4,257 2

Indiana 800*

Iowa 2,176

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana 6,893 10,000 69%

Maine

Maryland 2,282 30

Massachusetts

Michigan 2,700*

Minnesota 102,178

Mississippi 112,000* 30,000

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey 300 3,000*

New Mexico

New York 8,495 2,500*

North Carolina 90,000 495 3,500* 14%

North Dakota

Ohio 3,700*

Oklahoma

Oregon 5,541 21,700* 26%

Other States category 32,980* 10,600

Pennsylvania 13 2,300* .6%

Rhode Island

South Carolina 418 3,300* 13%

South Dakota

Tennessee 1,573 3,500* 45%

Texas 1,100*

Utah

Vermont

Virginia 222 2,200* 10%

Washington 44,629 71,800* 62%

West Virginia

Wisconsin 23,321 60,900* 38%

Wyoming

Unites States 199,133 299,380 67% 6,893 161,600 4% 30,951 91,700 34%

*2015 most recent by NASS
TABLE 3: TOTAL ACRES, YEAR - 2017 Tomatoes, Process Tropical Fruit – Banana, Coffee, 

Papaya

Walnuts

State ▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼ RMA▼ NASS▼ Pct.▼

Alabama 1

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas 568

California 223,871 230,000 97% 157,539 335,000 47%

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida 16,443

Georgia 2,448

Hawaii 4,692 9,000* 52%

Idaho 

Illinois 2

Indiana 7,331

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland 83

Massachusetts

Michigan 2,521

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey 999

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina 495

North Dakota

Ohio 4,376

Oklahoma

Oregon

Other States category

Pennsylvania 1,120

Rhode Island

South Carolina 418

South Dakota

Tennessee 1,573

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia 222

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Unites States 262,471 230,000 114% 4,692 9,000 52% 157,539 335,000 47%

*2016 most recent by NASS
Table 4: Specialty Crop Program Expansions

2015 Crop Year

Commodity Expansion State Expansion County

Blueberry California Santa Barbara

Cabbage Michigan Lenawee

Monroe

Dry Peas Wyoming Laramie

2016 Crop Year

Commodity Expansion State Expansion County

Apples Missouri Warren

Blueberry Florida Citrus

De Soto

Hardee

Hernando

Lake

Marion

Pasco

Sumter

Cabbage New York Genesse

Niagara

Mint Indiana La Porte

Michigan Clinton

Potatoes Missouri Dunklin

Processing Beans New York Madison

Onondaga

Oswego

2017 Crop Year

Commodity Expansion State Expansion County

Blueberry Oregon Morrow 

Dry Beans Idaho Franklin 

Dry Peas Alaska Fairbanks North Star 

Dry Peas Alaska Southeast Fairbanks 

Dry Peas Kansas Decatur 

Dry Peas Kansas Rawlins 

Dry Peas Kansas Thomas 

Dry Peas Nebraska Chase 

Dry Peas Nebraska Dundy 

Dry Peas Nebraska Hayes 

Dry Peas Nebraska Hitchcock 

Dry Peas Nebraska Lincoln 

Dry Peas Nebraska Red Willow 

Dry Peas Washington Benton 

Grapes Connecticut Litchfield 
Grapes Connecticut New London

Grapes Connecticut Windham 

Grapes Maryland Queen Anne’s

Grapes Maryland Washington 

Grapes Massachusetts Bristol 

Grapes New Jersey Atlantic 

Grapes New Jersey Camden 

Grapes New Jersey Cumberland 

Grapes New Jersey Gloucester 

Grapes North Carolina Yadkin

Grapes Pennsylvania Adams 

Grapes Pennsylvania Berks 

Grapes Pennsylvania Chester 

Grapes Pennsylvania Schuylkill 

Grapes Virginia Albemarle 

Grapes Virginia Botetourt

Grapes Virginia Charlotte 

Grapes Virginia Fauquier 

Grapes Virginia James City

Grapes Virginia Loudoun 

Grapes Virginia Nelson

Grapes Virginia Orange

Grapes Virginia Rappahannock 

Grapes Virginia Shenandoah

Grapes California San Diego 

Pecans California Glenn 
Data sources used for this report: 

Acreage (June 2017)

Crop Production 2016 Summary (January 2017)

National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) crop survey data February 2018

Census of Agriculture 2012 

Risk Management Agency Experience Data