It's time to reform crop insurance and help smaller neighbors

At the Center for Rural Affairs, we’ve heard from farmers across the Midwest and Great Plains about negative impacts of federally subsidized crop insurance for over a decade. A farm safety net is important to help family farmers mitigate risks, but there are real concerns with the current crop insurance program.

The federal government subsidizes crop insurance, paying 62 percent of premiums, on average, in 2012. Insurance policies are sold and completely serviced through 19 approved private insurance companies.

Not only does the federal government pay the majority of producers’ premiums on eve...