RMA to Discuss the Future of Apple Crop Insurance in NYS

 I am certain each of you know the threat Mother Nature places upon your operations each year. To counter this risk, the RMA has developed an Apple Crop Insurance Program. Like any federal supported program there are those who question the fairness to the US taxpayers. Over the last five years the northeast sector, including Michigan, has suffered devastating losses due to climate related events. As a result, many feel that the cost to insure fresh apples in this sector is too expensive for the US taxpayer to continue at the same rate of risk. On the table will be talks to raise the grower dollar contribution to this program.

On August 16, in Rochester, New York, I will be attending and participating in an open discussion with the leaders of RMA as to the future of our Apple Crop Insurance Program. I will be very strong in my opinion that this program is absolutely essential to maintaining a healthy NY apple industry. Crop insurance is not cheap.  All insurance programs offer a risk/reward element. I have been very outspoken that without crop insurance I feel many very good apple operations would either be out of business today or be carrying a huge debt to cover these climate related events. As an industry, we are willing to pay for our insurance. The levels, however, can be raised to a level that prohibits participation.

H-2C

 Currently being circulated within the House of Representatives is a 46-page document that outlines the House vision for solving the agriculture guest worker issues. I have read this several times and applaud the House for putting so much time and effort into this study. It is in the discussion stages and there is a great deal of back and forth as industry and staff debate the content. In my opinion, this is the most complete effort to address this issue since Ag Jobs.

If approved and signed by the White House, this program would go into effect 18 months after passage. It would replace the H-2A programs. It is a much more enlightened document that offers a path forward for today’s agriculture to staff their needs while maintaining border security. Final wording is not on the table at this time, of course. I do see an honest effort to apply the needs we have been advocating for all of these years. The House is reaching out to the industry for comments and we will be there to offer constructive comments.

In short, if we can continue to draft this H-2C program, I feel it offers the most enlightened efforts to fix agriculture labor needs while maintaining border security. I am confident that we, for the first time, have a strong piece of legislation coming from the House that will offer security to our labor issues that have been in flux since 1987. I consider monitoring this document issue number one for the NYS Horticulture Society. We will keep everyone in the loop as this develops.