Actual Production History (MPCI) - APH coverage is the oldest and most popular product in the crop insurance family of policies. Often called simply "Multi-Peril Crop Insurance" or MPCI, it provides protection against a loss in yield due to natural causes. For most crops, this includes drought, excess moisture, cold and frost, wind, flood and unavoidable damage from insects and plant disease. APH plan guarantees a yield based on the individual producer's actual production history. If the production to count is less than the yield guarantee, the insured will be paid a loss.

Adjusted Gross Revenue Insurance (AGR) - The Adjusted Gross Revenue pilot program is a whole-farm revenue program that provides an insurance safety net for producers growing crops where MPCI insurance coverage is not available. AGR insures all agricultural commodities produced on a farm as well as products purchased for resale against loss of revenue due to any unavoidable natural disaster that occurs during the previous insurance year, or market fluctuation that causes a loss in the current insurance year. Animal and animal products may account for no more than 35% of the allowable income for the insurance year in order for a producer to be eligible for AGR.

Adjusted Gross Revenue Insurance Lite (AGR-Lite) - The Adjusted Gross Revenue-Lite program is a whole farm revenue program similar to the AGR program that provides protection against low revenue due to unavoidable causes. Covered farm income includes income from almost all crops and agricultural commodities. Producers are eligible for AGR-Lite regardless of what percentage of their income is from animals and animal byproducts. For AGR-Lite, the annual average adjusted gross revenue cannot exceed $250,000.

Catastrophic (CAT) - The Catastrophic Endorsement can be attached to APH and several other policy types. For a $300 fee, producers can buy the minimum insurance coverage based on 50% of the producing operation's average yield at 55% of the FCIC established prices.

Dollar Plan - The dollar plan provides protection against declining value due to damage that causes a yield shortfall. The amount of insurance is based on the cost of growing a crop in a specific area. A loss occurs when the annual value of the crop is less than the amount of insurance. The maximum dollar amount of insurance is stated on the actuarial document. The insured may select a percent of the maximum dollar amount equal to their coverage level.

Group Risk Income Protection (GRIP) -GRIP is based on the experience of the county rather than individual farms, so actual production history (APH) is not required for this program. A GRIP policy includes coverage against potential loss of revenue resulting from a significant reduction in the county yield or commodity price of a specific crop. When the county yield estimates are released, the county revenues (or payment revenues) will be calculated the following crop year. A GRIP policy will pay an indemnity when the county revenue is less than the "trigger" revenue on the individual producer's policy. Since this plan is based on the county revenue and not individual revenue, the insured may have a loss in revenue on their farm and not receive payment under GRIP. A GRIP Harvest Revenue Option (HRO) endorsement is available. This Option offers "upside" price protection by valuing lost bushels at the harvest price in addition to the coverage offered under GRIP.

Group Risk Plan (GRP) - GRP coverage is based on the experience of the county rather than individual farms, so actual production history (APH) is not required for this program. GRP indemnifies the insured in the event the county average per-acre yield (the payment yield) falls below the insured's "trigger" yield. The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) will issue the payment yield in the calendar year following the crop year insured. Since this plan is based on county yields and not individual yields, the insured may have a low yield on their farm and not receive payment under the GRP plan of insurance.

Group Risk Plan (GRP) Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF) Rainfall Index Pilot - PRF Rainfall Index coverage is a risk management tool offered to farmers and ranchers who rely on pasture, rangeland, or forage acreage for haying or grazing. It is a limited-availability pilot program, beginning with the 2007 crop year.

This policy is similar to other GRP policies; however, rather than providing coverage based on county yields, coverage is based on the rainfall experience in a small area called a grid. Under the PRF Rainfall policy, grids are squares of 12 by 12 miles. The smaller area allows PRF policies to provide more localized, specific coverage. A producer's Actual Production History (APH) is not used for this program.

Producers with qualifying acreage are covered for a reduction in the grid's index, an average of the precipitation data within that grid. A PRF Rainfall policy is intended for those producers whose acreage tends to follow the average rainfall patterns for the grid. Producers are not required to insure all qualifying acreage in a county.

While other GRP programs use National Agricultural Statistic Service (NASS) data for rating and determining county yields, the PRF Rainfall Index Pilot uses average precipitation data provided by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - the same data used to create the Palmer Drought Index. This precipitation data is used for rating and for determining grid indices.

Coverage is purchased the calendar year before the crop year begins, and is provided in multiple producer-selected insurance periods called Index Intervals. An Index Interval is a two-month period. Producers select the appropriate Index Intervals for their operation by asking themselves "When do I need rain on this parcel?" Their answer tells them which Index Interval(s) they should purchase to mitigate their risk.

PRF indemnifies the insured in the event the Final Grid Index falls below the insured's Trigger Grid Index (the insured's selected coverage level). The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) issues the Final Grid Index when the Index Interval ends. Payments on the corresponding Index Interval will be issued to insureds that are owed a loss.

Because this plan is based on grid precipitation data from NOAA and not on individual production, the insured may have low rainfall in a grid and still not receive an indemnity.

LIVESTOCK

Livestock Gross Margin - The Livestock Gross Margin Insurance Policy provides protection against loss of gross margin (market value of livestock minus feed costs) on swine in Iowa. The indemnity at the end of the 6-month insurance period is the difference, if positive, between the Expected Gross Margin and the Actual Gross Margin.

Livestock Risk Protection - The Livestock Risk Protection Insurance Policy provides protection for fed cattle, feeder cattle, and swine against a decline in prices below the established coverage price. The indemnity at the end of the endorsement period is the difference between coverage price and actual ending values. LRP is not available in all states; please talk with your local RCIS agent for details.

Your RCIS local, independent insurance agent can help you evaluate crop insurance products and design the coverage that's right for you.

CROP HAIL OVERVIEW

What would a hail loss mean to you? To your family? To your operation? The crops you seed or plant require a major investment of labor and cash. Depending on the severity of hail damage, you could be risking the loss of your profit, labor and cash investment. An RCIS crop-hail policy isn't just a good investment - it's one of the best investments you can make.

Policy Types - The days of "one size fits all" crop-hail policies are long past. You may need a standalone policy, a full-coverage policy, or a crop-hail policy using a variety of RCIS deductible programs. RCIS also has companion crop-hail policies designed to protect the uninsured portion of your Multiple Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) policy. RCIS and your local RCIS agent are committed to helping you manage your risk through affordable crop-hail programs. .

Optional Endorsements - Many RCIS crop-hail programs offer optional endorsements that will further enhance your crop-hail program by providing coverage against specific perils. Your local RCIS agent can explain the optional endorsements available for your crops and help you tailor your crop-hail coverage to your risk management needs.

NAMED PERIL OVERVIEW

RCIS offers flexible coverage designed to protect crops from damaging weather conditions during specified coverage periods. These Named Peril products are recommended as supplements to an MPCI policy, a crop-hail policy or as a standalone policy. Named Peril policies are designed to cover gaps in other coverages, such as hazards unique to specific crops, unavailability of MPCI programs or crop-hail coverage in your area, and Processor coverage.

SUPPLEMENTAL PRODUCTS - Must be purchased in combination with a Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) policy. RCIS offers two supplemental policies that are designed to enhance your underlying RCIS MPCI policy. These products provide increased protection above that offered under the multi-peril coverage in certain states on selected products.

Added Price Option (APO) -- APO is a supplement available on select multi-peril crop insurance crops and plans in select states. Coupled with MPCI, an APO policy may enable the crop to be insured up to full value. The Added Price Option is strictly a production policy where losses are triggered only by loss of yield. There is no revenue guarantee under the APO policy.

Replant Option - The Replant Option is a supplement available on select Multi-Peril Crop Insurance crops and plans in select states. In the event of a MPCI replant indemnity, the insured receives an additional payment from the Replant Option policy. This policy also covers replant costs on smaller acreage than Multi-Peril Crop Insurance.

STANDALONE PRODUCTS - Products are available in select states only. If state availability is not listed below, please contact your local RCIS agent for details.

Mobile Tobacco Bulk Curing Barns - Covers damage to curing barns for specified perils.

Harvest/Stored Tobacco - Covers tobacco against specified perils while stored in the covered barn.

Crop Fire - Protects an un-harvested crop against loss due to fire or lightning.