Crop insurance is USDA's primary means of assisting farmers following a crop loss. Crop insurance helps farmers recover from crop losses, secure operating loans, and market a portion of their crop aggressively. In 1997, an estimated 70 percent of acreage planted to major crops was insured. Crop insurance coverage is widely available on all major commodities, such as corn, wheat, and cotton.
Coverage is also available on a growing number of fruits, nuts, and vegetable crops.
This expansion added to the national total of 28,154 county crop programs in 2,983 counties. Further, RMA continues to develop new pilot programs, such as insurance for cabbage, watermelons, and rangeland. By increasing the number and types of insurance plans, the program will help producers to better manage their production risks. Yield levels are available for up to 90 percent of the expected county yield. GRP protection involves less paperwork and costs less than the farm-level coverage described above.