With record prevented plant claims this year, the disaster bill allowed the Risk Management Agency to top up payments 10 to 15 percent depending on the policy. In an interview with the Red River Farm Network, RMA Administrator Martin Barbre said the top up payments included a requirement that farmers buy crop insurance for the next two years. “If producers get behind on crop insurance premiums and don’t get their premiums for 2019 paid by the sales closing date for next year, for most spring crops that’s March 15, they’ll be put on something called Ineligible Tracking System (ITS),” explained Barbre. “One option they have is to sign a written payment agreement with their company, allowing them several months to get that done. That keeps them off the list. Farmers don’t want to be on ITS. If you’re put on that list, they won’t be able to meet the two year requirement to purchase crop insurance and will have to pay top up money back. Farmers need to get premiums paid or work out a written payment agreement with their company.”
