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BLACKSBURG — In these times of increasing concern about drought and decreasing government support, proponents of crop insurance are waving their flags.
The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, the government agency that subsidizes the privately 'sold policies, would like to broaden participation in the program. Past -participation has been scant. Last •year about 20 percent of farmers nationally and 25 percent in Virginia ’took out policies. 1 Participation has traditionally 'been low because many farmers reasoned that n a drought destroyed ifcheir crop, it would destroy their neighbors’ crops as well. And the government has a history of coming tio the rescue of insured and unin'sured farmers alike in the event of W idespread crop failure. 5". Jim Pease, a Virginia Cooperative Extension agricultural economist, says history might not repeat 'itself much longer. Congress is moving away from providing large-scale disaster relief, Mr. Pease said. »‘ “If the disasters are widespread • enough. Congress has generally succumbed to political pressures, stepped in and bailed farmers out as a group,” he said. “But I think there’s more resistance developing -to that in Congress, primarily -pushed by budgetary problems at the national level.” - One proposal floating around Washington would require farmers to purchase crop insurance if they want to participate in any other government agriculture programs. _ So, although crop insurance has bpen a good idea for a long time, it might become an even better one in •light of the increasing likelihood of a change in the Congress’s bail-out -philosophy.
In Virginia, the money paid out through crop insurance has been ‘ Substantial, Mr. Pease said. “Over the last five years, roughly $3 has been paid out for every $1 in premiums paid by farmers in Virginia.” *- The threat of more dry weather — perhaps not dry enough to warrant wholesale disaster relief — has 'been the primary motivation for ' those signing up in recent years, he Vv'jd. ' - Last year, the percentage of farmers taking out crop insurance in Virginia increased 29 percent, ’according to the American Associa" tfon of Crop Insurers, and Mr. Pease ' thinks the increase is due to more concern about drought.
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