08/11/06 RMA pilot insurance program

The USDA Risk Management Agency is kicking off two new pilot insurance programs for pasture, rangeland and forage. RMA's Dave Paul says the new insurance products, the rainfall index and the vegetation index insurance programs will be available in 15 Idaho counties and nine eastern Oregon counties. PAUL "Between the end of August and the end of November hopefully all producers in the affected pilot area will have the opportunity to learn about the pilot and determine whether or not it would be a good risk management tool for their operation." The rainfall index is available in Idaho and five other states and is based on rainfall indices to measure expected production losses. Paul says Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Bonneville, Caribou, Cassia, Franklin, Gooding, Jefferson, Jerome, Madison, Oneida, Owyhee, Power and Twin Falls counties are eligible. The vegetation insurance program is available in Oregon and five other states. You can find a lot more information at the RMA website, www.rma.usda.gov. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott