USDA’s insurance products have proven successful for crop farmers. Often providing a lifeline after natural disasters. Yet, for all its successes there has never been a widely used product to help cattle producers manage price risk. That could be changing due to recent improvements to Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) plan of insurance.  USDA has recently made some changes that will improve LRP and make it a better program.

USDA announced changes regarding further improvements to their Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) plan of insurance. The two changes include: Reducing the premium around 5%  Allow premiums to be paid after the coverage ends, rather than upfront  The changes approved are...

The Western United States accounts for just over half of the cropland acres and almost 90 percent of the pastureland acres in the United States. In terms of livestock, almost half of the dairy cows, 60 percent of beef cows, and more than 75 percent of cattle on feed...

Recent market volatility due to COVID-19, commonly called Coronavirus, is causing cow-calf producers concern. Many market experts are optimistic market fundamentals coupled with recent trade deals will result in stronger prices this fall. However, with current export markets such as South Korea now impacted by COVID-19 and potential export markets such as China, futures prices have fallen.

This paper provides an overview of the agricultural provisions of the U.S.-China Economic and Trade Agreement (Agreement) and discusses how those provisions will be reflected in upcoming USDA commodity trade forecasts.

You have probably heard about USDA’s Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance (PRF). You may wonder if it’s something you should utilize. From 2013-2017, I oversaw USDA’s insurance programs for the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Overseeing a program provides a different perspective, you see its strengths and weaknesses.

I GREW up on a sheep ranch you don’t incorporate Dairy-RP into in Utah before leaving to work in your business plan, odds are you Washington, D.C., where I oversaw may regret it. Margins are too tight many of USDA’s farm programs. and markets are too volatile to man-...

AGree The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance Program.

Laketown, Utah, April 25, 2018: USDA recently announced significant improvements to the Livestock Risk Protection Insurance Plan (LRP), a program that allows cattle producers to insure against unexpected price declines. LRP allows producers to insure between 70% and...

Little-known insurance program could be producers’ lifeline during current market volatility. It’s a challenging time for agriculture. Trade wars are brewing. Prices are down. Interest rates are going up. Producers are worried about their bottom- line. We often blame...

Brandon was recently interviewed by Utah Public Radio regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture's package to shield farmers from the effects of trade disputes. The interview and accompanying article were originally posted on the Utah Public Radio website, upr.org....

Nationwide acreage enrolled increased 46 percent in 2017 Most Idaho ranchers are missing out on the benefits that the improved Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PRF) could provide to their bottom line. The improved PRF is the first USDA insurance program allowing...

The improved Pasture, Rangeland and Forage (PRF) program has proven to be an effective risk management tool for ranchers during this year’s drought. Analysis shows that in 2017, in drought-stricken parts of Montana, for every $1 spent on premium, $5 was paid in...

Listen as Brandon Willis discusses the Heritage Foundation's misleading narrative about farm policy and addresses several key discoveries from his recent study that set out to clarify the facts.

The Oklahoma Farm Report and Farm Policy Facts wrote about our recent study that exposes Heritage Foundation's misleading narrative about farm policy. You can read the Oklahoma Farm Report article below. To read the full study, click here. To read the seven key points...

Montana ranchers are reminded that the annual sign up for the 2018 Pasture, Rangeland and Forage (PRF) program ends November 15th. The improved PRF is the first federal crop insurance program allowing ranchers to manage their risks during short-term drought. PRF is...

Listen as Brandon discusses several topics ranging from farm policy to crop insurance on the Agri-Talk radio show. AgriTalk is a radio program for rural America, providing information that connects producers with consumers and currently airs on 70 stations throughout...

Calf prices and precipitation are two key factors impacting the profitability of ranchers in the West. The improved Pasture, Rangeland and Forage (PRF) crop insurance program is a relatively new program designed to address the reduced cash flow when snow or rainfall...

Utah ranchers are reminded that the annual sign up for the 2018 Pasture, Rangeland and Forage (PRF) program ends November 15th. The improved PRF is the first federal crop insurance program allowing ranchers to manage their risks during short-term drought. PRF is...

Nevada ranchers are reminded that the annual sign up for the 2018 Pasture, Rangeland and Forage (PRF) program ends November 15th. The improved PRF is the first federal crop insurance program allowing ranchers to manage their risks during short-term drought. PRF is...

Wyoming ranchers are reminded that the annual sign up for the 2018 Pasture, Rangeland and Forage (PRF) program ends November 15th. The improved PRF is the first federal crop insurance program allowing ranchers to manage their risks during short-term drought. PRF is...

Idaho ranchers are reminded that the annual sign up for the 2018 Pasture, Rangeland and Forage (PRF) program ends November 15th. The improved PRF is the first federal crop insurance program allowing ranchers to manage their risks during short-term drought. PRF is...