Wisconsin Congressmen Propose Changes to Crop Insurance Bill

May 16, 2013

Two Wisconsin congressmen are proposing changes to the nation’s crop insurance program that they say will save the federal government $11 billion over the next 10 years.

Democratic Rep. Ron Kind and Republican Rep. Tom Petri announced their plan on May 15 as work continues in Congress on a new farm bill. Kind says he hopes to introduce the plan as an amendment to the farm bill in the House.

Farmers buy crop insurance from private companies, but the federal government subsidizes premiums and picks up the tab for losses over a certain amount.

Among other things, Kind and Petri’s proposal would cap the total value of government subsidies each farmer can receive at $40,000. It also would not provide subsidized insurance for farmers who make more than $250,000.

Topics Agribusiness Wisconsin

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