On May 23, 2024, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) Board of Directors approved the Fire Insurance Protection – Smoke Index (FIP-SI) Endorsement. It is available beginning with the 2025 crop year as additional coverage for the Common Crop Insurance Policy, Basic Provisions, and the Actual Production History Grape Crop Provisions in counties located in California. The coverage provided by this Endorsement may be combined with the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) Endorsement or the Catastrophic Risk Protection Endorsement (CAT).

The FIP-SI Endorsement covers a portion of the deductible of the Grape Crop Provisions when the insured county experiences a minimum number of Smoke Events as determined by the FCIC in accordance with the Smoke Index Data Provisions and identified in the actuarial documents.

As mentioned above, currently the FIP-SI Endorsement is only available for grapes grown in California, insured under the Grape Crop Provisions, and in those counties listed in the Grape actuarial documents. It cannot be added to a policy by a written agreement, and an administrative fee and premium for each variety of grapes covered by the FIP-SI Endorsement will be due in addition to any administrative fee(s) and/or premium(s) of the underlying policy. However, the FIP-SI administrative fee(s) may be waived if the insured qualifies as a limited resource farmer, a Beginning Farmer Rancher (BFR), or a Veteran Farmer Rancher (VFR). For additional information, and to review the bulletin in full, click on the following hyperlink: https://www.rma.usda.gov/policy-procedure/bulletins-memos/product-management-bulletins/2024/pm-24-049-fire-insurance.