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USDA implements APH Yield Exclusion
The USDA has implemented a Farm Bill initiative to provide emergency relief from drought and other severe weather conditions. The Actual Production History (APH) Yield Exclusion will apply to Spring 2015 crops including corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, grain sorghum, rice, barley, canola, sunflowers, peanuts, and popcorn. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says the USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) and Farm Service Agency (FSA) have worked overtime to prepare for this necessary aid for farmers and the implementation is sooner than expected. Winter wheat, however, is excluded.
“This was not a situation to make this announcement soon enough to impact winter wheat. The reality is that we cannot, sort of, reopen that because it would create some serious actuarial concerns that would result in, I think, a bit of chaos in the market,” Vilsack told reporters.
House Ag Committee Chair Frank Lucas says “he remains hopeful the USDA will also work to make the same relief available to winter wheat producers.” Farmers can exclude yields from farm APH when the county average yield for that crop year is at least 50-percent below the average yield of 10 previous consecutive crop years, allowing them to increase their crop insurance coverage. Full details will be released to farmers in December.
AUDIO: Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack and RMA Administrator Brandon Willis (22:00 mp3)
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