This broader and higher participation level doesn't eliminate all need for disaster aid, however. But 1.4 million acres have no protection. Even with its higher participation rate, Kansas' wheat crop includes 7.9 million protected acres and 2 million with no insurance, the economist said. Adding to farmers' potential setback, some market analysts are now speculating that a smaller U.S. wheat harvest could bring lower, not higher prices. At best, spring's export sales have been stagnant.
Many experts believe ad hoc disaster aid has been a drag on farmers' buying crop insurance.
I imagine many of this year's winter wheat growers with a failing crop would consider a 5 percent reduction in disaster aid a small price to pay for having decided not to buy crop insurance. Other approaches to assigning aid might be less discouraging to future insurance sales. Of course, for farm state representatives, that idea may sound like a political nightmare. All rights reserved.