Florida storm crops miss out

Government-backed insurance plans in the US help compensate farmers for losses after natural disasters. Unfortunately for the produce growers who were ravaged by recent hurricanes, a lot of the nation’s vegetable and fruit crops aren’t covered.

Florida storm crops miss out

Hurricanes Irma and Harvey, which devastated parts of Florida, Texas and the Gulf Coast, also hit some of the nation’s least-insured crops, based on data the US Department of Agriculture released in a report. Nationwide, only 16% of peppers and 2% of strawberries, both key Florida products, are covered by insurance.

“Extreme weather events are coming more often, and farmers do need tools”, said Krysta Harden, a former deputy secretary of the USDA, who’s now the chief sustainability officer and vice president for public policy for the agriculture division of DowDuPont.

“Crop insurance helps them deal with these extreme weather patterns. The need for it is increasing,” she said. US-backed crop insurance, which paid out a record $17.5bn (€14.6bn) after a drought hit the Midwest in 2012, has become the main government protection for farmers against weather damage.

While plantings of crops like cotton are 100% covered by the government programme, produce has lagged behind, with only 34% of vegetable acreage covered and many less-common products not covered by the programme at all. In some instances, farmers have chosen not to get insurance. In others, the offerings are limited: Strawberries are only covered through a small pilot programme.

“Rare events can make it more challenging to develop policies, but we have very long records of hurricane strikes in the US,” said Tom Worth, chief actuary for the USDA’s crop-insurance programme. “One year is not the driver, but we’re learning more about the risks.”

n Bloomberg

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

FILE PHOTO The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has cleared the purchase of Goodbody Stockbrokers by AIB END Goodbody Stockbrokers fined over €1.2m by Central Bank over rules breaches
Nottingham City Centre Stock Irish staff at the Body Shop wait for wages as retailer shuts stores in the Republic
Ryanair comments on Norwegian Ryanair boss O'Leary's spat with Transport Minister over Dublin Airport escalates
IE logo
Devices


UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE IRISH EXAMINER FOR TEAMS AND ORGANISATIONS
FIND OUT MORE

The Business Hub
Newsletter

News and analysis on business, money and jobs from Munster and beyond by our expert team of business writers.

Sign up
ie logo
Puzzles Logo

Play digital puzzles like crosswords, sudoku and a variety of word games including the popular Word Wheel

Lunchtime News
Newsletter

Keep up with the stories of the day with our lunchtime news wrap.

Sign up
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited