The House Agriculture Committee today approved reauthorization for WHIP+ in 2020 and 2021.
The program provides payments to producers to offset losses from hurricanes, wildfires, and other qualifying natural disasters that occurred in 2018 and 2019. WHIP+ covers the losses of the crops, trees, bushes and vines that occurred as a result of those disaster events, milk losses due to adverse weather conditions, and losses to on-farm stored commodities. The bill, approved by a voice vote of the committee, would expand coverage to include the western drought, last year’s derecho wind storm in Iowa, and other natural disasters in 2020 and 2021.
Chairman David Scott, a Democrat from Georgia, stated during the hearing, the severity of recent natural disasters “has required supplemental assistance, and that’s why I have prioritized extending the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus for 2020 and 2021.”
Scott said, “The Federal crop insurance program has served as a critical risk management tool for producers, and we need more producers to participate in the program. I appreciate the leadership of our Subcommittee chair, Cheri Bustos, on ensuring we maintain and strengthen the program. The bill here today would bring in more producers by requiring them to purchase crop insurance the next two years after receiving assistance.”
“Representatives Angie Craig, Abigail Spanberger, and Dusty Johnson have important legislation to give flexibility to ranchers to be able to access feed from cover crops without being penalized on their crop insurance,” Scott added. “Earlier this summer, USDA announced those flexibilities administratively, and so I applaud their leadership to influence that announcement.”
Representative Mike Thompson, a California Democrat, introduced the bill in January.
NAFB News, House Ag Committee News Release
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