Ernst Pushes to Strengthen Farm Safety Net, Make Crop Insurance More Affordable

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, is working to strengthen crop insurance and make higher levels of coverage more affordable for farmers.

She joined Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.) in supporting the Federal Agriculture Risk Management Enhancement and Resilience (FARMER) Act to improve the affordability and coverage of federal crop insurance by increasing premium support for the highest levels of coverage, shrinking producer deductibles, and ultimately reducing the need for ad hoc disaster assistance in the future.

“Crop insurance is an essential tool our hardworking farmers rely on to protect their livelihoods as they work to feed and fuel our world. It’s become painfully clear in recent years that existing coverage levels leave significant gaps, denying our farmers the access to affordable risk management options they need,” said Senator Ernst. “The FARMER Act will ensure folks are better equipped to be resilient in the face of the unpredictability and challenges each growing season brings.”

Background:

Ernst has helped propel efforts to improve federal crop insurance and spotlighted its critical role in providing certainty for Iowa farmers, especially in the face of natural disasters. During the 2020 derecho, she urged the United States Department of Agriculture to provide Iowa farmers with additional support and relief when crop insurance was unable to cover all of the total crop losses.

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