By Jennifer Dorsett
Field Editor

Hemp growers in Texas will soon be eligible for Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The federal agency recently announced it is expanding the pilot hemp MPCI program to several more states, including Texas. The expansion and other improvements to the plan are effective for the 2021 crop year.

“We are pleased to expand the hemp program and make other improvements for hemp producers,” USDA’s Risk Management Agency Administrator Martin Barbre said. “Hemp offers exciting economic opportunities for our nation’s farmers, and we are listening and responding to their risk management needs.”

In February, USDA announced risk management program details for hemp crops. At that time, hemp farmers in just 21 states were eligible for the pilot MCPI program.

Through MPCI, farmers are covered against loss of yield on hemp grown for fiber, grain or cannabidiol (CBD) oil.

Eligible farmers must have at least one year of history producing the crop and have a contract for the sale of the insured hemp. In addition, the minimum acreage requirement is five acres for CBD and 20 acres for grain and fiber.

Hemp does not qualify for replant payments or prevented plant payments under MPCI.

Changes made to the program include streamlining program reporting and billing dates to match those of similar crops, adjusting acreage reporting dates based on regional final plant dates and moving the premium billing date to Aug. 15 for all eligible states. Broker contracts are now allowed for hemp grain, as well.

Beginning in 2021, hemp will be insurable under nursery crop insurance programs nationwide and the Nursery Value Select pilot crop insurance program in select states, according to USDA. Under both nursery programs, hemp is insurable if grown in containers under terms of the crop insurance policy and in accordance with state and federal law.

For more information on USDA risk management programs for hemp farmers, visit http://farmers.gov/hemp.

For specific information on MPCI dates by county, visit USDA’s Risk Management Agency’s actuarial information browser application.