USDA EXPANDS CROP COVER:

Farmers in 13 states now have the opportunity to reduce the cost of their crop insurance by up to 10 percent, in an innovative program approved recently by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Crop1 Insurance Inc. announced that it has received approval from the USDA to offer federal crop insurance to farmers at a discount through the Crop1 Insurance Premium Discount Plan (PDP). This is the second year in which the Des Moines-based company will offer a premium discount to farmers in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, and North Dakota. The company was also approved and is available to expand its coverage area to include Missouri, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. The Crop1 PDP offers federal crop insurance for all crops that are insured under the federal program with discounts of up to 10 percent for standard federal crop insurance. The crops available for the discount have been expanded from 2003. Now, Crop1 can insure all crops under the federal program. Agent groups, including the IIABA, have complained that the program cuts them out of the loop and gives farmers an incentive to forgo sound insurance advice in favor of lower rates.