Floridians are no stranger to hurricanes and tropical storms, and now there’s more coverage to help farmers protect their assets. The USDA offers crop insurance, with options expanding in 2020 and now again in 2023. In today’s blog from Dark Hammock Legacy Ranch, we’ll share the details of what you can expect from the expansion. For more ranching news and updates, visit our blog. 

History of the Program

In 2020, the USDA established the Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index (HIP-WI). If a weather event triggers the coverage into effect, the HIP-WI will cover a portion of the deductible of the underlying insurance crop policy. This can happen when the county you’re located in, the one adjacent, or any of the surrounding areas are hit by hurricane force winds. The policy covers 70 different crops and is available in counties in the vicinity of the Gulf Coast of Mexico, the Atlantic and Hawaii. You can combine this HIP-WI with additional coverage, like the Supplemental Coverage Option and the Stacked Income Protection Plan.

Tropical Storm Option Debut

For the 2023 season, the USDA has worked to add an additional coverage option to help further protect ranchers. The Tropical Storm Option makes its debut this season as a result of direct feedback from impacted farmers. “Many farmers have felt the impacts of tropical activity, and it’s important that we offer risk management tools to protect agricultural producers and their operations,” USDA’s Risk Management Agency’s Administrator Marcia Bunger said.

Qualifying Events

The Tropical Storm Option will go into effect for any damage sustained from a named tropical storm as reported by NOAA. Maximum sustained winds must top 34 knots and rainfall must exceed six inches over a four-day period for an indemnity to be paid. This coverage and the HIP-WI are available in select counties in select states, including Florida. For more on how we ranch here, learn about our history on our website. 

At Dark Hammock Legacy Ranch, we’re striving to provide the best care for our animals, and in turn provide the best product for our community. To purchase grass-fed beef, visit our website.