Protecting Mushroom Farmers Act

To amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act to require the research and development of a policy to insure the production of mushrooms. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Mushroom Farmers Act 2. Research and development on mushrooms Section 522(c) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1522(c) (20) Mushrooms (A) In general The Corporation shall carry out research and development, or offer to enter into 1 or more contracts with 1 or more qualified persons to carry out research and development, regarding a policy to insure— (i) the production of mushroom growing media; and (ii) the production of mushrooms. (B) Availability of policy Notwithstanding the second sentence of section 508(a)(1), and section 508(a)(2), the Corporation shall make a policy described in subparagraph (A) available if the requirements of section 508(h) are met. (C) Research and development described Research and development described in subparagraph (A) shall evaluate the effectiveness of policies described in that subparagraph, including policies that— (i) are based on the risk of— (I) pests, including mushroom phorid flies and sciarid flies; (II) fungal pathogens; and (III) viral pathogens; (ii) consider other causes of loss applicable to mushroom compost and mushroom production, such as— (I) a loss of electricity due to weather; and (II) loss of growing media due to excessive 5-year, 10-year, or 20-year rainfall events; (iii) consider appropriate best practices to minimize the risk of loss; (iv) consider whether to provide coverage for mushrooms under 1 policy or to provide coverage for various phases of production; (v) have streamlined reporting and paperwork requirements that take into account short propagation schedules, variable crop years, and the variety of mushrooms that may be produced in a single facility; and (vi) provide protection for revenue losses. (D) Report Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Corporation shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report that describes— (i) the results of the research and development carried out under subparagraph (A); and (ii) any recommendations with respect to those results. .

Summary: Protecting Mushroom Farmers Act This bill requires the federal crop insurance program (FCIP) to provide for the research and development of a policy to insure the production of mushrooms and mushroom-growing media. (The term policy means an insurance policy, plan of insurance, provision of a policy or plan of insurance, and related materials.) The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, the agency that finances FCIP operations, must make any resulting policy available that meets specified FCIP requirements. As part of the research development, the bill requires an evaluation of the effectiveness of insurance for the production of mushrooms, including policies that (1) are based on the risk of specific pests and pathogens, (2) consider appropriate best practices to minimize the risk of loss, and (3) consider whether to provide coverage for mushrooms under one policy or to provide coverage for various phases of production.