Farm Bill - Crop Insurance Gets Squeezed?

Hmmmnn. The same crop insurance program that a couple of years ago Members of Congress worked diligently to protect sales agents' premiums at farmers' expense is now getting a second look. Back then, it was the Premium Discount Plan that offered lower prices to farmers, while the plan allowed crop insurance providers to compete on the price of FCIC crop insurance products. Then, it was the farmers that lost that policy discussion.

Now -- with the squeeze on where the money will come from to pass the Farm Bill, Phil Brasher reports in the Des Moines Register that consideration is being given to cutting sales' agent commissions. Read "Farm Bill Plan: Cut Crop Insurance Commissions." Representative Collin Peterson is proposing the cuts. Peterson has often been a critic of crop insurance in the past. Meanwhile, Senator Harkin, who has been an ardent protector of the crop insurance program in the past, is getting optimistic about passage of the Farm Bill before it expires on April 18.