The survey respondents were composed of more than 1,300 farmers, growing 20 different crops in 26 states and who are customers of CIPA.
Some key findings highlighted from farmers responding to the survey:
· 96% oppose funding cuts to crop insurance like the one recently proposed in the White House’s Fiscal 2017 budget request;
· 97% oppose reopening the 2014 Farm Bill to change crop insurance;
· 94% oppose the Assisting Family Farmers through Insurance Reform Measures (AFFIRM) Act, a legislative proposal introduced last year to reduce crop insurance benefits and limit coverage options;
· 97% prefer that crop insurance be administered by the private sector instead of the government;
· 93% said their banks demand crop insurance coverage before extending needed operating capital; and
· 99% noted that current low commodity prices and extreme weather make crop insurance coverage a necessity.
Opinions related to crop insurance opponents were also solicited in the survey. CIPA found that just 1% of farmers agreed with findings by a Center for Rural Affairs (CAR) report that gave crop insurance a failing grade for effectiveness. When asked to give a letter grade for crop insurance, almost six in 10 farmers gave it an A and 36% gave it a B.