A small sum paid by a number would repair such losses and prevent much poverty and distress. The idea of crop insurance is as old as the country, but it has become a reality only in this century . About two-thirds of the acreage planted to major U.S. crops is insured, and more than 76 crops and many of their varieties are insurable. Crop insurance is widely available for major commodities such as corn, wheat, soybeans, and cotton.
Coverage is also available on a growing number of fruits, nuts, and vegetable crops.
Crop insurance is sold and serviced by 17 insurance companies in conjunction with a network of 15,000 agents who provide front line information on the latest programs available to producers. The effectiveness of this partnership is evident in that virtually all indemnities are paid within 30 days of a claim. RMA also provides training to farmers to help them acquire the risk management skills needed to compete and win in the global marketplace. With their public and private partners, RMA works to find improved risk management strategies, develop educational curricula and materials, and train producers in effective use of risk management tools. RMA also helps makes information on risk management more accessible to farmers and educators by funding the National Ag Risk Education Library , a powerful resource developed by the Center for Farm Financial Management at the University of Minnesota.