Rep. Ralph Abraham Applauds Changes in Rice Crop Insurance
WASHINGTON - Congressman Ralph Abraham, M.D., R-Alto, released the following statement after the USDA's Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) announced it would add Alternate Wetting-Drying (AWD) and furrow irrigation practices to those eligible for federal crop insurance coverage beginning in crop year 2020.
From Rep. Abraham:
"I'm very happy to see the USDA has acknowledged the benefits of alternate wetting-drying and furrow irrigation, which use 25 to 30 percent less water and until now were not eligible for federal crop insurance. These more efficient methods are preferred by many Louisiana rice farmers due to their higher yields and lower costs of production," said Abraham. "I’ve been pushing for this policy change for several years now by working directly with the USDA, adding it to the House version of the 2018 Farm Bill, and ensuring it was included in the final version signed by President Trump when I served on the Farm Bill Conference Committee. This is great news for the American rice industry, and especially for Louisiana farmers."
From Scott Franklin, President, Northeast Louisiana Rice Growers Association:
"Congressman Abraham has worked with Louisiana farmers on this project since 2016 and it would never have come to fruition without his efforts," said Franklin. "These innovative irrigation methods give rice farmers more flexibility during uncertain economic times in American agriculture, but they also promote soil and water conservation while we continue to produce the safest and most efficient food supply in all of the world."
Rep. Abraham has been a member of the House Committee on Agriculture since 2015.