AG/FDA Blog

Crop Insurance Arbitration: Navigating the Landmines

May 15th, 2019
Contributors: Kenneth D. Ackerman, Elliot Belilos
Two years ago, a Kentucky farmer won an unusual $640,000 arbitration award against his Federal crop insurance AIP (approved insurance provider). During the arbitration, the farmer presented evidence to prove that the AIP had mishandled his policy, le… Read More
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Categories: USDA
Tags: American Arbitration Association, Arbitration, Elliot Belilos, FCIC, Federal Crop Insurance, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, Kenneth D. Ackerman, RMA

FARMERS: Yes, heavy spring rains can affect your FCIC crop insurance coverage.

May 9th, 2019
Contributor: Kenneth D. Ackerman
It’s no secret that weeks of heavy rain and snow melt have wreaked havoc with farm operations across the Midwest this spring. Sixty tornadoes hit the lower plains last weekend alone, and rivers in some areas are cresting at levels not seen since th… Read More
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Categories: USDA
Tags: FCIC, Federal Crop Insurance, Risk Management Agency, RMA, Spring Rain

Federal Crop Insurance AIPs: Some Misconceptions about Underwriting Gains

May 15th, 2018
Contributor: Kenneth D. Ackerman
Debate over the 2018 Farm Bill, likely to start in earnest this week with House consideration of H.R. 2, may focus sharp attention on the question of whether taxpayer costs for Federal Crop Insurance are reasonable and supportable. At least five amen… Read More
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Categories: Public Policy, USDA
Tags: 2018 Farm Bill, AIPs, Approved Insurance Providers, Farm Bill, FCIC, Federal Crop Insurance, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, Kenneth D. Ackerman, Risk Management, Standard Reinsurance Agreement, W&A, Watts & Associates

Top Priority for the 2018 Farm Bill: Protect Federal Crop Insurance

January 9th, 2018
Contributor: Kenneth D. Ackerman
Of all the issues surrounding a new Farm Bill in 2018, perhaps none unifies American agricultural producers more than Federal Crop Insurance, provided by USDA’s Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC). Be it North or South, big or small, row crop… Read More
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Categories: Public Policy, USDA
Tags: Agriculture, Congress, Crop Insurance, Farm Bill, Farmer, FCIC, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, Government Relations, Kenneth D. Ackerman, Law Firm, Lawyer

To Fix FEMA’s National Flood Insurance, Take a Page From USDA’s Federal Crop Insurance (Part 1 of a 2 Part Series)

September 18th, 2017
Contributor: Kenneth D. Ackerman
It will take months to calculate the damage Hurricanes Harvey and Irma unleashed on Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and other states this summer: lives lost, homes destroyed, businesses wrecked, property damage in the tens of billions of dollars. But beyo… Read More
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Categories: Public Policy, Uncategorized
Tags: Attorney, Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act, Congress, Crop Insurance, FCIC, FEMA, Flood, Florida, Harvey, Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, Hurricane, Insurance, Irma, Kenneth D. Ackerman, Law Firm, Lawyer, Louisiana, National Flood Insurance Program, NFIP, Texas

Texas and Florida Farmers: Time to Face Crop Loss

September 11th, 2017
Contributors: Kenneth D. Ackerman, Elliot Belilos
It will take months to calculate the damage Hurricanes Harvey and Irma unleashed this summer on the states of Texas, Louisiana, and Florida: dozens of lost lives, hundreds of thousands of destroyed homes, tens of billions in property damage and untol… Read More
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Categories: USDA
Tags: Attorney, Crop Insurance, Crop Loss, Elliot Belilos, Farm, Farmers, FCIC, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, Flood, Florida, Harvey, Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, Irma, Kenneth D. Ackerman, Law Firm, Lawyer, Louisiana, Risk Management Agency, Texas, USDA

A Tale of Two Maps: Why Crop Insurance Is Different.

March 22nd, 2016
Contributors: Kenneth D. Ackerman, Elliot Belilos
People often ask why Washington has to involve itself at all in providing crop insurance to American farmers. After all, homeowners across the country buy fire insurance, individuals buy life insurance, business owners buy casualty and liability insu… Read More
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Categories: Public Policy, USDA
Tags: Agriculture, Agriculture Insurance, Crop Insurance, Drought, Elliot Belilos, Farmer, FCIC, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, Insurance, Kenneth D. Ackerman, Lawyer, Risk Management, Risk Management Agency, RMA

For Crop Insurance AIPs, a New Financial Environment

February 9th, 2016
Contributors: Kenneth D. Ackerman, Elliot Belilos
USDA’s Federal crop insurance program has benefited from a unique public-private partnership that is one of the most successful in government. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) and Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) set the insurance pol… Read More
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Categories: Public Policy, USDA
Tags: Agriculture, AIP, Approved Insurance Provider, Crop Insurance, Elliot Belilos, FCIC, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, Kenneth D. Ackerman, Law Firm, Lawyer, Risk Management, RMA, SRA, Standard Reinsurance Agreement

Arbitration in Federal Crop Insurance AIP-Farmer Disputes

February 1st, 2016
Contributors: Kenneth D. Ackerman, Elliot Belilos
This past year, USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA), which administers the Federal crop insurance program on behalf of USDA’s Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), quietly issued three new regulatory interpretations with deep implications fo… Read More
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Categories: USDA
Tags: Agriculture, American Arbitration Association, Arbitration, Crop Insurance, Elliot Belilos, FCIC, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, Final Agency Determination, Kenneth D. Ackerman, Risk Management Agency, RMA

Celebrating 35 Years of Success: USDA Practice Team

November 19th, 2014
Contributor: Brett T. Schwemer
Recently, Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Matz, P.C., otherwise known as “OFW Law,” celebrated 35 years of business with colleagues, family, friends and clients. We were extremely proud to share this milestone with those who have helped make OFW Law on… Read More
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Categories: OFW Law News, Public Policy, USDA
Tags: Agriculture, AMS, Animal Welfare, APHIS, Brett T. Schwemer, Crop Insurance, FCIC, FNS, Food, Food Label, Food Safety, Forestry, FSIS, FSIS Enforcement, GIPSA, HACCP, High-Risk Foods, Labeling, Nutrition, OFW Law, PACA, Packers and Stockyards Act, USDA
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