MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Members of the Land Stewardship Project (LSP) today applauded the recent announcement that U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D – MN) has signed on as a co-author of the Whole Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) Improvement Act. If incorporated into the next Farm Bill, this legislation would expand insurance access to farmers historically left out of the federal crop insurance program.
“I am thrilled that Senator Klobuchar has signed onto this bill,” said Andy Petran, who raises berries near Isanti, Minn. Petran’s Twin Cities Berry Company has not been able to qualify for crop insurance as a result of the way the current program is set up.
A recent survey conducted by LSP, the Midwest Farmers of Color Collective and the National Young Farmers Coalition found that only 21% of the 700+ farming respondents had ever had a crop insurance plan. The current federally subsidized crop insurance program is mostly designed for farmers raising commodity crops like corn or soybeans who have years of established yield history, said Amanda Koehler, LSP’s policy manager and federal policy organizer. The WFRP Improvement Act includes provisions to address common barriers faced by small, medium-sized and diversified farmers, and to otherwise strengthen the program by streamlining paperwork, expanding the Micro Farm pilot, raising the limit to annual revenue expansion, strengthening the diversification discount and compensating crop insurance agents who sell WFRP appropriately.
“Improving Whole Farm Crop Insurance is a net gain for all Americans,” said Petran. “It improves the viability of smaller operations in a way that is affordable to the next generation of growers without negatively impacting the viability of larger, more established farms. Ultimately, it helps ensure consumers have more reliable access to a vibrant array of fresh, local produce at markets, co-ops and stores nationwide. By choosing to support this legislation, Senator Klobuchar has shown that she represents the interests of her constituents and farmers.”
With climate change exposing farmers to extreme, unprecedented weather events, having a solid, accessible safety net is more important than ever, said Koehler. That’s why LSP and its allies have been working the past several months to push for inclusion of the WFRP legislation in the next Farm Bill; farmer-members have participated in fly-ins to Washington, D. C., and more than 125 Minnesota farmers signed a letter asking for Sen. Klobuchar’s support. The Farm Bill, which is re-drafted approximately every five years, has been temporarily extended until September.
“With the uncertainty of a new Farm Bill happening in 2024 and Senator Klobuchar being next in line to either Chair or be the Minority Ranking Member on the Senate Agriculture Committee, securing her as a co-author for the WFRP Improvement Act is crucial,” said Koehler. “We know now that WFRP will likely remain a priority for the Senate Ag Committee, even after Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow retires.”
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The Land Stewardship Project (LSP) is a private, nonprofit, membership-based organization founded in 1982 to foster an ethic of stewardship for farmland, to promote sustainable agriculture and to develop healthy communities. LSP has offices in the Minnesota communities of Lewiston, Montevideo and South Minneapolis.