USDA Details $3.3 Million Investment to Expanding Crop Insurance Outreach to Underserved Producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently invested about $3.3 million in two new partnerships that will train and equip the next generation of crop insurance agents, adjusters and outreach educators about crop insurance options. RMA’s partnerships with the Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC) and the University of Arkansas’ Southern Risk Management Education Center further efforts to broaden participation in crop insurance, especially among underserved producers. Both partners were chosen because they have a proven track record of success working with RMA and have the infrastructure needed to be successful in strengthening the education and outreach on increasing the adoption of risk management tools in underserved agricultural communities.
The IAC initiative’s goal is to increase the representation of underserved insurance agents and loss adjusters providing service to underserved communities. The partnership with the Southern Risk Management Education Center at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will strengthen outreach and technical assistance to underserved farmers and ranchers through the development of risk management program navigators. These navigators will be program specialists trained by project collaborators to provide strategic outreach and engage underserved agricultural populations about federal crop insurance. In addition to the $3.3 million investment noted above for the two new partnerships, RMA has invested $3.19 million since 2021 in partnerships involving 25 projects with dozens of awardees (and sub-awardees) to expand outreach and education on crop insurance through the Risk Management Education Partnership Program, authorized under Section 522(d) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act.