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Crop insurance is a valuable risk management tool that allows growers to insure against losses due to adverse weather conditions, fire, insects, disease, and wildlife. Crop insurance is federally subsidized and is sold by private crop insurance agents. From 1997 to 2006, Pennsylvania farmers who purchased crop insurance averaged more than a $1 back for every $1 they paid in premiums in 19 of the past 20 years.

A minimum level of crop insurance, called CAT insurance, is available to all farmers regardless of size at no premium cost (all premiums are paid by the federal government). Higher levels of crop insurance (buy-up protection) are also federally subsidized, with farmers nationwide paying only 33 to 62 percent of the actual cost of the insurance (depending on the level of coverage selected by the producer).

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a strong supporter of crop insurance and has allocated funds to help farmers buy crop insurance since 2000. This money helps producers to better afford higher levels of buy up protection so that they are better protected when disasters occur.

Multi-peril crop insurance is available for at least one commodity in every county in Pennsylvania; a total of 36 different crop insurance policies are available across the state (including new policies for dairy and lam producers). More information on specific crops and types of coverage can be found under Fact Sheets.

AGR-lite is available statewide (since 2003) to eligible farmers with adjusted gross revenues of up to $2.05 million (based on a maximum protection limit of $1.0 million annually at the 65 percent coverage level and the 75 percent payment rate) and has no limitation on livestock income or requirement for the purchase of MPCI.

A Partnership of the USDA Risk Management Agency, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and Penn State University.