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 designed to address reduced cash flow when precipitation falls below average. Ranchers pay premiums, but unlike most types of insurance, they are discounted by at least 50 percent. In 2017, its 8th year in Montana, PRF insured 1,560,005 acres. Nationwide, ranchers increased the amount insured by 20 million acres insuring 70 million acres in 2017 (graph 2).
Costs to insure rangeland vary, depending on factors such as premium rates, coverage level, and the productivity in your area. For 2017, the average cost of PRF in Montana was $1.21 per acre. Nationwide producers have paid $678 million in premium and received $1.25 billion in indemnities during short-term drought (graph 2).
To learn how PRF would have performed on your ranch call Ranchers Insurance at 435-213-0463 or email brandon@ranchersinsurance.com. Because PRF is based on historical precipitation data, we can provide a quick ranch- specific analysis including an estimate demonstrating how PRF would have performed for your ranch. This analysis will tell you whether PRF would have provided you the assistance needed during historical droughts. Ranchers Insurance will also explain the advantages and limitations of the PRF program so that fully understand how PRF works.
Ranchers Insurance is an insurance agency operated by Brandon Willis, former administrator of the Risk Management Agency – the agency that oversees the federal crop insurance program. Ranchers Insurance specializes in federal crop insurance options for ranchers.
