Irrigated Acres Eligible Under New WHIP+ Policy Update

LUBBOCK, TX – The Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) provides disaster payments to producers to offset losses from hurricanes, wildfires, and other qualifying natural disasters that occurred in the 2018 and 2019 calendar years. The $3 billion program is administered through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) and signup opened March 23rd for losses due to excessive moisture and drought (in counties designated D3 or above by the U.S. Drought Monitor). In addition, FSA is implementing a provision for crop quality loss that resulted in price reductions or penalties when marketing crops, including irrigated crops in the affected counties (according to WHIP Notice 19). According to Steve Verett, Executive Vice President with Plains Cotton Growers (PCG) in Lubbock, TX, insurance claims that listed heat, hot wind, or excessive wind (codes 12, 62, 61), instead of drought, will now be considered as drought. “As long as you did not make over 95 percent of your APH (average production history) in 2018, there’s a possibility that you could be eligible for help”. FSA has received more than 33,000 WHIP+ applications to date, and signup continues for the program at local FSA offices.