In this issue...
Crop Sense
Valued Agencies, Business Partners and Friends, Happy New Year! Often times a new year is indicative of a new beginning, a fresh start or resolution for improvement. While those concepts are exciting and inspiring, the truth is...innovation and improvement are already woven into our very foundation and core strategies here at Hudson Crop. Therefore, while 2022 may inevitably yield a variety of new products, services, strategies and ideas, our “resolution,” if you will, is unchanging – no fresh start necessary. We are dedicated to staying true to our core values by operating with efficiency, creativity and fiscal responsibility while providing our customers with superior customer service, improved efficiencies and accuracy through the continuous development of technology, procedures and training. Integrity and honesty are a top priority and non-negotiable in our unique culture. We are humans and mistakes happen, but it’s how we make corrections and plans to avoid them in the future that preserves our strength as an organization. We will maintain our strong underwriting discipline and diversified footprint of business, with the objective of withstanding any one...
Read more...
In the summer of 2014, Hudson Crop employees gathered to review and update the company’s Vision and Mission. The conclusion of that exercise has not only provided all employees a clear picture of what we want to accomplish as a Company, but has also become an integral part of our culture. First, employees agreed that our vision is “to be the most trusted agricultural risk management partner” with a mission “to be the leading crop insurance provider for agents and agricultural producers by offering the most innovative portfolio of private products and technologies, by delivering outstanding customer service and support and by creating long-term profitability for ourselves and our risk management colleagues.” The vision and mission defined several years ago has become a daily reminder of the purpose and responsibility that each Hudson Crop employee has in their roles as we continue to service our agents and farming communities across the United States. The summer of 2014 set the foundation for the largest growth in the Company’s history this year, as well as the ninth consecutive year a profit share was paid to qualifying agencies. With growth, more responsibilities and increased...
President - Hudson Crop Insurance Services, Inc.
Dan Gasser
Vice President - Director of Operations
Andre Virgilio
The deeper the roots, the greater the growth.
September 2023
CROP SENSE
Legal and RMA Statements
true to our core
What would you like to read about in the next edition of Crop Sense? Tap/click on a Communications team member’s name to submit your suggestions!
Lexi Schroeder Marketing Comm. Manager Courtney Coombs Marketing Comm. Specialist
Hudson Crop | (866) 450-1445 | HudsonCrop.com
marketing
CLAIMS
Tools & Tech
Underwriting
ACCOUNTING
AGENCY SERVICES
PRIVATE/ SUPPLEMENTAL
Direct Marketing Certification A new form was introduced in 2023 that is important for growers who Direct Market their crop (U-Pick, roadside stand, farmers markets, etc.) or who do not have acceptable third-party records (familial or financial relationship in the facility that markets their commodity; Vertically Integrated). The Marketing Certification Form must be completed by the Acreage Reporting Date to facilitate a conversation regarding acceptable records and the need for pre-harvest appraisals. Direct Market growers must still notify Hudson 15 days before harvest, per the applicable crop provisions. Although this form is oftentimes applicable to perennials, it could apply to any crop that is direct-marketed, or one that...
Ease of business is critical in our world – the ever-evolving technology world and the crop insurance industry. This is exactly why we put our core values and strategies to the test daily, challenging what we do and how we can do it better. Innovation and dedication to technology is woven into the fabric of our culture, directly benefiting our agency partners, farmers and ranchers. While we have an endless list of tools and technologies that promote efficiency, accuracy and ease-of-business, we’d like to spotlight a couple of our latest digital enhancements that...
TOOLS & Tech
Generating Excitement
Farmers and ranchers deal with a variety of extremes – prolonged heat, excess moisture, severe weather, low commodity prices – the list goes on. With traditional, federal crop insurance programs, the protection is fixed, which could result in a missed opportunity for the commodity for that year. This is why we strive to provide innovative ways to supplement that federal coverage. Check out some of our unique product offerings, unlike any others in the industry! BOOST-Max allows a producer to elect bands of coverage at higher coverage levels than those offered through the Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) program, coupled with current prices. The BOOST-Max Advantage: • Benefit from record-high corn and...
Private/SUPPLEMENTAL
Compete on a Level Playing Field
In the dynamic landscape of modern agriculture, adaptability and forward-thinking strategies are paramount. At Hudson, we recognize the pivotal role that risk assessment and portfolio diversification play in ensuring sustainability. Our steadfast commitment is to seamlessly integrate these strategies into our existing framework, initiating a phase of revolutionary advancement. In this dialog, we delve into our resolute mission, visionary aspirations and unwavering values as we pave the way for an agricultural future fortified with resilience. Elevating Risk Assessment and Optimizing Portfolios Our objective revolves around the elevation of risk assessment and the optimization of our portfolio. We believe using advanced methods and technologies can create a balanced and robust portfolio. Our focal point lies in optimizing the portfolio, methodical diversification, climate-related challenges and unforeseen adversities...
Cultivating Agricultural Resilience
New contracts, commission schedules and other relevant and required documents can be sent via DocuSign® for easy delivery to your inbox and easy return to us! Training should be easy and convenient. In addition to numerous live classroom and webinar events, most courses are also provided on demand, meaning you can access them at any time, any day! To locate live and on-demand training, simply visit the Training Event Registration page under the...
Daily Training Available
Contract Signatures
Agency Services
Here for You
Introducing an all NEW Department
Lisa Loe
‘Tis the heaviest season for crop insurance premium billing, and we’d like to take this opportunity to provide a couple of key reminders as bills are received and remitted! The Hudson Crop Accounting Team mailed combination bills and pre-termination notices via United States Postal Services (USPS), including a helpful document outlining important deferral of crop insurance premium interest charges changes and action items, announced by the RMA in Managers Bulletin MGR-23-004. Please be sure to review the document to fully understand the announcement and resulting calls to action. When remitting payment, strongly consider our newest digital premium payment enhancement – Pay as Guest! Pay as Guest is a feature of our Online Bill Pay functionality that provides non-Hudson system users, such as farm managers or accountants, the ability to make a one-time...
Valued and Trusted Partners, 2023 has been a year of calculated action. The opportunities born from the events faced in 2022 will bolster the trajectory of not only our business, but our agents’ for years to come. We faced four catastrophic events in 2022 – prolonged droughts in the Southwest, California and Texas, as well as Hurricane Ian in Florida. As such, we’re reshaping our book in a unique way that focuses on finding pockets with less volatility and complements our business in each state, subsequently supporting our nationwide portfolio. We’ve also targeted growth in the corn belt and Upper Midwest to strengthen our overall portfolio...
A Letter from Dan
Hudson Crop exists and operates to provide its business partners and associates with sustainable growth and profitability by operating with efficiency, creativity, and fiscal responsibility while providing our customers, the agent, with superior customer service, improved efficiencies and accuracy through the continuous development of technology, procedures and training.
OUR CORE STRATEGIES
To be the leading crop insurance provider for agents and agricultural producers by offering the most innovative portfolio of private products and technologies, by delivering outstanding customer service and support and by creating long-term profitability for ourselves and our risk management colleagues.
OUR MISSION
To be the most trusted agricultural risk management partner.
OUR VISION
2023 Farm Bill UPdate
Contact your congress person. Your voice matters!
How to find your congressman or congresswoman:
Senators
Representatives
2023 Farm Bill: Setting the Stage The passage of the next Farm Bill is still a ways off, and many predictable changes in policy, outlook and funding will undoubtedly take place between now and the Bill’s eventual passage. The coming months may likely be stressful as debates ensue and farmers desperately try to maintain the essential tools they need to continue producing the food and fiber needed by this country and the world. You can take comfort, though, in knowing that Hudson Crop will remain a valued partner to you in the midst of this journey. We are following developments in the Farm Bill debate and will be a voice for this vital part of the agricultural economy. When the dust settles and the new Bill is in place, we will continue to help you meet the risk management needs of today’s farmers and ranchers through expert knowledge of new or underutilized federal programs and a comprehensive suite of private products.
Fall Reminders
For the 2024 and succeeding crop years, the Risk Management Agency (RMA) introduced a new 508(h) policy entitled “Grapevine Crop Policy.” This new policy has additional features not included in the standard MPCI Grape program. Features include: • Vine-based dollar amount of insurance that provides coverage for specific types of grafted grapevines in select counties in California, Idaho, Michigan... Pasture, rangeland and forages make up approximately 55% of all U.S. land. The Pasture, Rangeland and Forage (PRF) policy is an area-based insurance plan that covers perennial pasture, rangeland or forage used to feed livestock. There is an estimated 588 million acres of available PRF and 61.5 million acres of...
'Tis the Season
Marketing
The Billing Beat
2023 Farm Bill Udate
A Letter from our President
Valued and Trusted Partners, 2023 has been a year of calculated action. The opportunities born from the events faced in 2022 will bolster the trajectory of not only our business, but our agents’ for years to come. We faced four catastrophic events in 2022 – prolonged droughts in the Southwest, California and Texas, as well as Hurricane Ian in Florida. As such, we’re reshaping our book in a unique way that focuses on finding pockets with less volatility and complements our business in each state, subsequently supporting our nationwide portfolio. We’ve also targeted growth in the corn belt and Upper Midwest to strengthen our overall portfolio. We believe we’ve dramatically heightened the diversification of our book, reducing exposure in areas that can potentially dampen our ability to achieve an underwriting gain and allowing us to share positive results with our business partners. It's a very exciting time here at Hudson as we seek to increase infrastructure by hiring talented individuals, particularly those directly servicing our agents on the frontline daily. We’ve officially reached a business milestone of more than one billion dollars in gross premium, bringing us to a place where our people can truly focus on their areas of expertise and have the opportunity for more responsibility and growth – further reinforcing our infrastructure. Despite these several changes, here’s what is not up for negotiation: our unrelenting dedication to our core values and service to you. 2022 was one of our heaviest claims years, but our team stepped up with fantastic service and speed. Our livestock book and team continue to grow and outperform the industry. In fact, we’re leading the livestock marketplace with a dedicated team of experts who are there for our agents day in and day out, even during those critical, non-business hours. In an industry riddled with shifts, changes and volatility, we take them in stride and see the opportunity to continue doing what we do best – providing stellar service and sound offerings with non-negotiable dedication to our values and agent-first culture. Thank you for your continued trust in Hudson. Dan Gasser President - Hudson Crop Insurance Services, Inc.
The Adjuster is a vital piece of the claims equation. Our expectations for accountability, knowledge, diligence, good communication and customer service are very high. We also provide all of our field staff with a high level of support through excellent training and supervision. Perhaps one of our most impressive stats is our turnover rate. In the past five years, we have lost one adjuster to a competing Approved Insurance Provider (AIP) – just one! In today’s world, that is extremely impressive and virtually unheard of. This tells us that Hudson is not only the AIP/employer of choice, but that our staff is loyal, motivated and takes pride in the work they do. I will wrap this up by sharing some of the agent feedback received from in the past year (names redacted): • “The Claim Supervisor is available 24/7 and is always very helpful or can get my question answered right away.” • “I have complete respect and trust for the Claim Adjusters in my area. They are very thorough, great with the farmers and very knowledgeable.” • “I just trust Hudson more.” Going into 2022, we look to raise the bar even higher as our staff continues to grow. We are always seeking to enhance our technology to increase our efficiency both in the field and in the office. Know that as our business and staff increases, you can rest assured that we are intentional about maintaining this extraordinary culture.
National Claims Manager
Rob Young
Pay As Guest
Dan Gasser - President, Hudson Crop Insurance Services, Inc.
Department Goals:
REMINDERS:
As a team, we endeavor to make your crop insurance journey as smooth as possible. We commit to walk hand-in-hand with you to help ensure your training and licensing requirements are met with quick and accurate documentation. We aspire to be your crop insurance trainer of choice and make it a priority to meet as many of your training needs as we can, whether that be live, in-person trainings or various online avenues.
It is the responsibility of the agent to keep training, exams and licenses up-to-date and submit certificates and renewals in a timely manner. Expired exams or licenses or missing training hours could prevent policy processing or create policy suspensions. Please send a copy of all certificates and renewed licenses to AgencyServices@HudsonInsGroup.com All agents must submit an annual Conflict of Interest (COI) form and an annual Controlled Business form. These forms may be completed electronically within the eHarvest Processing System dashboard.
Customer Service We are halfway through the 2023 Reinsurance year, and we are still experiencing unimagined growth in Hudson’s Livestock portfolio. We are excited to be not only an AIP of choice for many agents and producers but also a partner that supports the Livestock programs with dedicated teams that are knowledgeable and understand the many intricacies of the different policies currently offered. We are proud of the partnerships we have created and grown throughout 2022 and thank each of you for your collaboration and support. Technology Although there have been several modifications to the workflow and documents coming out of eHarvest®, expect to see continued enhancements and process improvements as we work to make eHarvest the most efficient and user-friendly system in the industry! Coming soon: • Quote to endorsement for LRP & LGM • Streamlined keying and printing capabilities from the endorsement modals for efficiency and ease of doing business. • Policy Management Dashboard enhancements for adding new producers and new claim icons for printing claims documents and notifications. • DocuSign platform available for signing all your livestock forms – QCEs & SCEs in January; Livestock policy applications, Target Marketing forms in February.
MEET THE "NEW" TEAM
Justin has worked in Crop Insurance for about nine years, focusing for the last six years on the administration of the Livestock program. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. His primary responsibility is to support our agents with Livestock program knowledge, including training, processes and procedures, systems and technology development, and supporting the different departments in servicing the livestock book of business.
Justin White | JWhite@HudsonInsGroup.com
Blaine has been with Hudson for more than two years. He was previously on the Hudson Crop Compliance Team and recently moved over to Livestock as a Livestock Specialist. He graduated with a degree in Agricultural Business and is eager to start servicing our fantastic Livestock agents!
Blaine Hanf | BHanf@HudsonInsGroup.com
Felicia has always had a passion for dairy. Prior to working at Hudson Crop, she worked on several large dairy farms as a herd manager and in crop insurance. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Large Animal Science and an MBA in Agricultural Business. She is looking forward to getting to know everyone and is eager to assist with any questions.
Felicia Andrews | FAndrews@HudsonInsGroup.com
Curt is a Lead Claims Processor at Hudson Crop and has been with the company for two years, primarily focusing on auditing and processing livestock claims. He has over 10 years of crop insurance experience in both MPCI and Livestock claims. He graduated with a degree in Business Administration and is looking forward to continuing to service our agents and insureds!
Curt Clanton | CClanton@HudsonInsGroup.com
Ronetta is the Livestock Underwriting Manager and has been working in the crop insurance industry for over 18 years.
Ronetta Rountree | RRountree@HudsonInsGroup.com
Karen has been in the crop insurance industry for over 30 years and has been with Hudson Crop since 2015. Throughout her career, she has held many roles involving everything from underwriting to billing and commissions to claims processing. Most recently she was a Livestock insurance specialist.
Karen Tanner | KTanner@HudsonInsGroup.com
Agency Services Manager
Justin White
Livestock Notifications (LRP & DRP) As the Livestock programs have grown, so have the needs of agents and producers to have the most current information when making risk management decisions. This includes emailing directly to producers Livestock quotes that include price information for each commodity as released from the RMA but premium costs before and after subsidy so that producers can make the best risk management decisions for their unique operations. Agents are able to access the Livestock Notifications through eHarvest where they can create and modify these notifications for an individual producer or a specific group. Each email is protected for privacy and permits efficiency in distributing these daily price offerings and Livestock information. Examples of the emails that producers could receive appear below. We look forward to offering text message quotes soon as well. DRP Daily Price Notifications
Livestock Specialists
Livestock Claims
Livestock Underwriting
Kodie grew up on a hobby farm with longhorn cattle and horses and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree focused in Biology. She has a passion for agriculture and looks forward to serving the Hudson Crop team!
Kodie Ginder-Mill | KGinder-Mill@HudsonInsGroup.com
Policy Changes and Updates The industry saw a lot of positive changes for the 2023 crop year, starting with the migration from the RMA’s legacy eDAS processing system to the Policy Acceptance System (PAS) transmissions used by the rest of the Multi-Peril crop insurance industry. This transition didn’t come without its concerns and hiccups, but Hudson Crop met the challenge. We were able to continue to write business the last day of the 2022 Reinsurance Year and roll right into the 2023 RY on July 1 without any major impacts to agents and no break in operational continuity.
LRP Policy Changes for the 2023 Reinsurance Year • Increase head limits: Fed Cattle: 12,000 head per endorsement and 25,000 head per crop year. Feeder Cattle: 12,000 head per endorsement and 25,000 head per crop year. Swine: 70,000 head per endorsement and 750,000 head per crop year. • Allow an insured to have both an LRP and Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) policy; however, an insured may not insure the same class of livestock with the same end month or have the same insured livestock insured under multiple policies. • Modify the premium offset language to allow an insured the choice to receive indemnities without a reduction to offset premium on any endorsements that have not ended. • Clarify that head limits are tracked by substantial beneficial interest (SBI). • Extend the termination date from June 30 to August 31. • Require proof of ownership before indemnity is issued. • Clarify that livestock must be marketable by the end of the Supplemental Coverage Endorsement (SCE). • Require insurance companies to pay indemnities within 30 days. Previously, insurance companies had 60 days to pay indemnities following the receipt of the claim form. • Allow unborn swine coverage for operations with multiple entity structures. • Modify the endorsement length for swine to a minimum of 30 weeks for unborn swine and a maximum of 30 weeks for all other swine. RY 2023 DRP Policy Changes • Allow sales to be suspended during the sales period for situations in which market conditions adversely change after the fact. • Add flexibility to continue coverage when producers experience a disaster at their dairy operation. The insured can use the milk marketing records as of the date of the disaster to determine the milk produced for the rest of the insurance period or use prior milk marketing records if the disaster occurs prior to the start of the insurance period.
• Revise the policy to clarify that the termination date is June 30. Cancellation during a crop year to submit an application for another DRP policy with a different insurance provider within the same crop year is not allowed. • Clarify that an insured cannot have other livestock insurance on the same milk in the same quarterly insurance period. RY 2023 LGM Policy Changes • Expand LGM Cattle, Dairy and Swine coverage availability to all 50 states. • Allow an insured to have both an LRP and LGM policy; however, an insured may not insure the same class of livestock with the same end month or have the same insured livestock insured under multiple policies. • Modify the premium offset language to allow an insured the choice to receive indemnities without a reduction to offset premium on any endorsements that have not ended. New Livestock Product (Coming in 2024) Weaned Calf Revenue Protection Approved by the FCIC Board in August 2022 slated for release in the 2024 Reinsurance Year with the first sales closing date expected in January 2024. More details to be released closer to the policy change date.
2023 Farm Bill: Setting the Stage
The passage of the next Farm Bill is still a ways off, and many predictable changes in policy, outlook and funding will undoubtedly take place between now and the Bill’s eventual passage. The coming months may likely be stressful as debates ensue and farmers desperately try to maintain the essential tools they need to continue producing the food and fiber needed by this country and the world. You can take comfort, though, in knowing that Hudson Crop will remain a valued partner to you in the midst of this journey. We are following developments in the Farm Bill debate and will be a voice for this vital part of the agricultural economy. When the dust settles and the new Bill is in place, we will continue to help you meet the risk management needs of today’s farmers and ranchers through expert knowledge of new or underutilized federal programs and a comprehensive suite of private products.
Crop Insurance Systems Specialist II
Clair Toews
The PRF Policy and Determining Product Interest
Pasture, rangeland and forages make up approximately 55% of all U.S. land. The Pasture, Rangeland and Forage (PRF) policy is an area-based insurance plan that covers perennial pasture, rangeland or forage used to feed livestock. There is an estimated 588 million acres of available PRF and 61.5 million acres of haying land within the U.S. PRF provides producers a risk management tool to cover the precipitation needed to produce forage for their operation. Since the policy is an “area-based” plan, the payments are not based on an individual producer’s experience; rather, payments are based on a grid’s deviation from normal experience. A grid is the physical area under which the operation is insured. A policyholder is paid based on the losses interpolated to the grid for the particular index. This is why it’s important to choose the right grid(s) in which the policyholder’s operation is located. To the right is an example of a grid layout in Central Montana. You can see in the first example how the grids are displayed in relation to the actual land or cropland, and in the second example you can see that PRF can be located next to a growers MPCI-insured cropland. In both examples, you can see two grid regions: 32776 and 32777. The second example has the CLU boundaries displayed to better “see” the PRF land versus cropland. The third example displays the NOAA weather stations in relation to the grids. This is helpful information to know where the rainfall data is collected.
• Intro to Crop Ins (4-pt series) – 12 • Dairy Revenue Protection – 3 • Livestock Risk Protection – 3 • Livestock Gross Margin – 3 • Livestock Comprehensive Update – 3
The Importance of Intervals Beyond choosing the corresponding grid regions for the operation, there are other factors involved in determining the policy needs for an insured. Since the area-based plan is based on the grid’s deviation from normal experience or rainfall amount, certain factors must be met before any losses are triggered. A weather station is used to determine the precipitation measured within each grid. The grid uses an interpolated precipitation model based on the NOAA CPC Daily Precipitation Data. The precipitation is measured each day, based on a 24-hour period, determined by the data set utilized by the Rainfall Index program. The RMA then compares the compiled data for each two-month interval with the historical precipitation data for the period that is typically expected in the grid.
The intervals are based on a two-month period. Working with their agent, producers will choose which index intervals to insure and how much for each. It’s important to review the historical indices tools for your grid, along with past production records to determine if these programs work for the producer’s operation and to assess which index intervals correlate well with their production.
National Field Services Manager
Ron Zarr
The Historical Summary lists the past 10 years and the intervals’ percentage of indemnity payouts. It also has the option to display five or 20 years of historical summary details. Losses and Claims Based on the interpolated precipitation data, if the precipitation falls below the average for the index interval, it triggers a loss payment to all producers who have signed up for the program in the grid that are covered under this interval. Producers do not need to submit a loss claim or notify their agents. RMA calculates any loss and Hudson Crop Insurance processes any indemnity loss. The losses are calculated based on whether the current year’s precipitation in a grid has deviated from normal compared to the historical normal precipitation in the same grid, for the same period. Is PRF drought insurance? NO, the PRF policy is not “drought insurance” and does not insure against the abnormally “high temperatures” or “windy conditions.” While a drought may cause a decline in the index value to the point that an indemnity payment is issued to eligible producers, a drought being declared in a state, county or area does not, by itself, trigger an indemnity payment under the PRF policy. Intended Use and Documentation Lastly, PRF has two options – grazing and haying. In the above policy estimate, grazing was chosen. For the intended use of grazing, do you need records that show you own or have an insurable interest in the livestock grazing the insured acres? The answer is YES. The intent of the PRF policy is that the producer owns or has an insurable interest in the livestock. Secondly, the person or producer with the insurable interest when the crop is grazed is based on the livestock and not the land. There may be times (or as requested) that the policyholder will be required to provide records that show they have grazed livestock and an insurable interest in the livestock. The supporting documentation to prove interest may include, but is not limited to:
For example, in many areas where PRF is available, July and August are normally extremely dry and thus may not be a good interval to insure. Hudson strongly encourages agents to use our “Quick PRF Estimator.” This tool can assist in choosing intervals and making informed decisions for your unique risk management needs. This tool can be accessed right from Hudson’s eHarvest ® processing system (see below).
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
• Livestock inventories from within the state;
• Sales documents of offspring;
• Documentation confirming you have purchased/owned/bred/raised livestock in the state;
• Documentation of livestock taken in on the gain or for a fee;
• Documentation that confirms you hauled livestock, in which case you have interest, into the state to graze; and
• If natural causes require you to destock your livestock, records showing the disposition of livestock is acceptable.
These records must be maintained for a period of three years after the crop year. Is the PRF policy right for you? Consider the following: 1. The impact and importance of climate and the need for rangeland insurance. a. Certain states and certain areas within these states are extremely arid and dry, without irrigation and rainfall, and the lack of moisture poses a major threat to livestock production. To ensure their haying and grazing capabilities, producers look at PRF. 2. Policy cost vs. efficiency factors. a. When choosing to insure with PRF or not to insure with PRF, the producer must weigh and closely watch how grazing and forage capacity aligns with the producer’s herd size. For example, if the producer is running at maximum capacity, turning cows out and counting on every hay bale, it’s a high probability you’re going to need a PRF policy. 3. Financial exposure and leverage. a. Due to current drought conditions and extended drought conditions in certain regions of the U.S., the need to purchase additional forage for livestock or just a higher-than-average debt load can increase the need for a PRF policy. Lastly, given the additional out-of-pocket expenses needed to sustain a livestock herd in drought conditions, a PRF policy may be warranted.
September 1 – December 1: Signup or Renew for next year December 1: Sales Closing, Cancellation and Acreage Reporting Date January 1 – December 31: PRF Crop Year December 31: End of Insurance Period September 1: Premium Due. Any indemnity received prior automatically goes toward premium
Hudson Crop is making strides to ensure flexibility and ease of doing business. Based on feedback from our agents and insureds, we’ve been making enhancements to eHarvest® that are setting the stage for two upgrades to our Online Bill Pay platform. Starting in fall 2022, we will expand our Online Bill Pay features to include Pay As Guest and Credit Card payment options. We currently offer two ways for insureds to pay their premium online, either by 1) a grower creating an account and making their own payments, or 2) calling in their premium payments by phone to their contracted Hudson Crop agent. While these features will remain in place, the feedback received was that the existing payment options are limited due to the fact that the current options require someone (either the grower or the agent) to have an eHarvest account or pay from a checking or savings account. The following provides a brief description of what is coming for Online Bill Pay. 1.) Pay as Guest: This new feature will allow a person who does not have an eHarvest account, such as a farm manager or an accountant, to make a one-time premium payment online for a grower. In order to make the payment on behalf of the grower, the person making the payment will simply need to have the grower’s bill in hand, the grower’s banking information and enter verification data from the bill. 2.) Credit Card Payments: Credit Card payments will also be accepted in the roll-out of these upgrades. Card processing fees and interest must be assumed by the insured...
Other Online Bill Pay and Transactional Reminders: • MPCI, Private Product and Livestock policies are available for Online Bill Pay. • In the event of an RMA audit, funding sources for premium payments must be proven as valid accounts owned by the insured named on the policy(ies). • Banking account information is not required to be stored in eHarvest/myHudson, and users may make one-time payments each time they login. However, the option to save banking account information for future payments is available for users. • We also offer direct deposit options for claim payments so growers do not have to wait for a paper check in the mail. Agents may set these up for their growers as requested after signing an acknowledgment form for system permissions.
Online Bill Pay – Upcoming Enhancements
National Compliance Reviewer
Jackie Schooler
Please reach out your Hudson Crop marketing representative with questions or for more information on our tools and technologies.
Direct Marketing Certification A new form was introduced in 2023 that is important for growers who Direct Market their crop (U-Pick, roadside stand, farmers markets, etc.) or who do not have acceptable third-party records (familial or financial relationship in the facility that markets their commodity; Vertically Integrated). The Marketing Certification Form must be completed by the Acreage Reporting Date to facilitate a conversation regarding acceptable records and the need for pre-harvest appraisals. Direct Market growers must still notify Hudson 15 days before harvest, per the applicable crop provisions. Although this form is oftentimes applicable to perennials, it could apply to any crop that is direct-marketed, or one that will not have third-party records (peanuts, fresh market tomatoes, cotton). The repercussion of not completing this form is the potential for no indemnity on a claim and assigned yields. It has become a critical component of policy forms for growers required to complete it.
Reporting Silage Appraisals as a Claim Please be aware that going forward, for all 2023 CY Corn Silage Appraisals, agents must report inspections the same way as a Notice of Loss in the eHarvest® Processing System. We are taking this measure in anticipation of a higher volume of claims in the upcoming season. What to do in eHarvest: 1) Search for the Policy Number/Grower Name 2) In the Claims tab, select the Actions drop-down under the Claims for Policy section. 3) Select Add New Notice, then Go. Complete the required fields: a. Claim Type = Final a. Notice Date b. Notice Received (by phone, in person, email, etc.) c. Coverage/Crop d. Damage Cause e. Immediate inspections requested (yes or no) f. Insureds Intentions = Chop/Silage g. In the comments section, provide a general timeline of when the insured plans to begin chopping silage. Please also provide any other important information the adjuster may need (i.e., Insured’s phone number, best time to contact, etc.). In the event you have already submitted a notice of inspection for a silage appraisal, no additional action is required. However, if there is existing or future damage, agents must report a claim Notice of Loss and/or contact the Claims Supervisor.
VP - Director of Operations
Who needs to complete this form? • A farmer that has a unit of apples that they allow the public to u-pick? • A farmer that delivers their cotton to a gin that provides them disinterested third-party records? • A farmer that delivers their cotton to a gin owned by their brother-in-law? • A farmer that delivers their cherries to a packing house for which they own 25%? • A farmer that sells their insured crops at a farmers’ market and/or roadside stand? • A farmer that sells their lentils on a family-owned online store? • A fresh market tomato grower that owns their own packing house? • A farmer that delivers their blueberries to a third-party packer?
Jaya Hahn
Regional Claims Manager - Northwest Region
YES
NO
The sale of the insured crop directly to consumers without the intervention of an intermediary such as a wholesaler, retailer, packer, processor, shipper, buyer or broker. Production records are controlled exclusively by the policyholder. Examples of direct marketing include selling through an on-farm or roadside stand, a farmers’ market, or permitting the general public to enter the acreage for the purpose of harvesting or picking all or a portion of the crop. Only the portion of the crop sold directly to consumers will be considered direct-marketed.
Direct Marketing
Disinterested Third Party
Generally, a person who does not have any familial relationship (parents, brothers, sisters, children, spouse, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, first cousins, or grandparents related by blood, adoption or marriage) with the insured or who will not benefit financially from the sale of the insured crop.
Possibility of Revenue Losses
With falling commodity prices, please remind insureds to assess their policies not only for yield losses, but potential revenue losses as well.
Managing Prevented Planting in the North
Growers in the Northern part of our region found themselves in the middle of a long, drawn out, cold and wet spring that delayed access to fields in some areas past the final planting dates for their planted crops. With a cause of loss common to a sizable area, the Hudson Claims staff began preparations in early June for a large number of prevent plant (PP) claims. The Prairie Pothole region is no stranger to the planted, harvested and insured (in one of the prior four years) requirements that are now nationwide. Hudson adjusters were able to utilize our integrated mapping system and APH histories to determine maximum payable acres by CLU for each section on our insureds’ policies prior to knowing the results of our insureds’ planting progress. This “homework” on the front side really speeds up the claims process once Acreage Reports are completed and maintains Hudson’s position as a leader in claims service for our agents and insureds. The last week of May and early June proved favorable for planting progress in the region. Growers were able to change planting intentions on-the-fly, and much of the acreage ended up with a planted crop. Whole fields of PP were uncommon at the end of planting for many of our insureds, but several fields saw partial planting and resulted PP claims work for our staff. We are currently well on our way to closing the final PP claims for the year, and agents and insureds alike are pleased with Hudson Claim’s ability to help them navigate a trying planting season.
Regional Claims Manager
Glenn Anderson
Hudson Crop strives to provide superior customer service and ensure our partnering agents have everything in place to grow. We understand that RMA and State requirements can be confusing, so our Agency Services Department is here to assist you. 2023 Training at a Glance – Over 29 Training Hours Available! As a customer service to you, we not only provide the RMA-required training, but also file for State Continuing Education (CE) credits for many courses. These State CE credits apply to the required hours for the renewal of your State license. Below are some of the trainings in which you can participate to receive both RMA and State CE hours: • Ethics – 3 • Spring Updates – 3 • Fall Updates – 3 • Acreage Reporting – 3 • Rainfall Index (PRF and Apiculture) – 3 Training made easy!
Shelley Simonson
Agency Services: Here for You
Disclosures: All agents must submit an annual Conflict of Interest (COI) form and an annual Controlled Business form. For convenience, these forms may be completed electronically within the eHarvest Processing System dashboard. To complete your COI, Controlled Business, or other disclosure forms electronically, access your Dashboard from within the Tools drop-down. Select the Disclosure Entry tab. Person type will be either Individual or Agency, depending on the form you are completing. Select the applicable form from the Type drop-down. Enter your SSN and Last Name, and be sure to select the correct Reinsurance Year.
*Note: On-demand training provides FCIC training credit only.
Contract Signatures New contracts, commission schedules and other relevant and required documents can be sent via DocuSign® for easy delivery to your inbox and easy return to us! Daily Training Available Training should be easy and convenient. In addition to numerous live classroom and webinar events, most courses are also provided on demand, meaning you can access them at any time, any day! To locate live and on-demand training, simply visit the Training Event Registration page under the eHarvest® Licensing/Training drop-down.
1. To view course details, hover over the blue information icon. 2. For all courses providing state CE, click the “View” hyperlink to download a copy of the training requirements and applicable state-required statements. 3. For live events, click the “Register” button to begin the registration process. a. For classroom events, the registration will immediately be confirmed. b. For webinar events, the user will be redirected to the applicable GoToWebinar® registration screen. User must fill out the GoToWebinar registration to complete the registration process. 4. On-demand courses can be launched by clicking the “Take Course Now” button next to the desired course. a. Note: Course must be completed in one sitting; user cannot pause or stop/return to training once launched. 5. For all on-demand courses, the user must go back into the eHarvest Training Event Registration page and click the “Complete Course” button. This will apply RMA training credit to the user profile. a. Note: Training credit cannot be applied prior to the time required for the course. Example: If taking a 3-hr course, the user must click the “Complete Course” button after completing the entire course for training to be credited.
Reminder: It is the responsibility of the agent to keep training, exams and licenses up-to-date and submit certificates and renewals in a timely manner. Expired exams or licenses, or missing training hours could prevent policy processing or create policy suspensions. Please send a copy of all certificates and renewed licenses to: AgencyServices@HudsonInsGroup.com For convenience, all exams are available 24/7/365 in the eHarvest Exam Center under the Licensing/Training drop-down. Scores are automatically updated within eHarvest after successfully passing the applicable exam.
Please Note: If you do not see the Training Events Registration option, please log out of eHarvest, clear your internet browser’s history and cache, then log back in. In addition, prior to registering for a webinar or on-demand training, ensure pop-ups are enabled on your browser.
‘Tis the heaviest season for crop insurance premium billing, and we’d like to take this opportunity to provide a couple of key reminders as bills are received and remitted! The Hudson Crop Accounting Team mailed combination bills and pre-termination notices via United States Postal Services (USPS), including a helpful document outlining important deferral of crop insurance premium interest charges changes and action items, announced by the RMA in Managers Bulletin MGR-23-004. Please be sure to review the document to fully understand the announcement and resulting calls to action. When remitting payment, strongly consider our newest digital premium payment enhancement – Pay as Guest! Pay as Guest is a feature of our Online Bill Pay functionality that provides non-Hudson system users, such as farm managers or accountants, the ability to make a one-time premium bill payment on behalf of the grower. No need for credentials - just a copy of the bill, the grower’s bank account information and an internet connection! It’s that simple. Watch the video to see for yourself. We strongly encourage agents to direct their policyholders to this new payment feature to simplify their premium payment process and overall crop insurance experience! Speaking of streamlining your overall crop insurance experience, click here for an interactive way to select where you are in your crop insurance cycle and view the tools and technologies in place to help you manage the load and service your customers with less paper, clicks and hours spent!
This fall, growers will be able to receive and submit Payment Agreements electronically! With use of DocuSign®, physical signatures and “snail mail” will no longer slow the payment agreement process. This new method will eliminate the slower-to-process paper documents, thus lowering the potential for ITS placement due to missed deadlines. How can agents help? Having policyholder and agent email addresses on file in the eHarvest® Processing System will be crucial for this process to seamlessly flow. Please ensure that in your interactions with policyholders, you are confirming both the presence and accuracy of their email address (and cell phone number for other convenient electronic offerings coming soon). Good business practice includes confirming contact information each time you meet with a policyholder. Likewise, if your contact information changes, please be sure to update this with Hudson. This simple addition to your workflow will make the overall experience for you and your customers as streamlined and positive as possible. Watch for the official release of electronic Payment Agreements soon!
Ron Zar
Director of Marketing Support
Jeffrey VanLandingham
Which U.S. crops and regions have an appetite for carbon sequestration programs? The answer will vary by crop, area, soil composition, etc. so please reach out to your Hudson Crop Sales Representative with your specific inquiries. That said, an area which provides a higher soil organic carbon (SOC) by region will provide a better benefit to the producer enrolling in a carbon sequestration program. The green and blue areas in the map below show soils with a higher level of carbon, which is more common in the northern plains and forested regions. The orange and red areas represent zones with low levels of soil carbon; these areas are mainly in the arid regions of the U.S. Buyers are looking for “legacy acres” where the grower has been planting a cover/no-till/less till crop for several years. These practices/acres, which are more plentiful in the Midwest than the South or Southwest, are marketable.
• Producers can benefit from potentially reporting fewer actual planted acres (compared to FSA reported acres), thus potentially reducing their premium and increasing their associated APH for those fields. • Reporting actual planted acres (compared to FSA acres) can result in less fertilizers and herbicides being used on the fields, which can help increase water consumption and soil health. • As for soil carbon sequestration, potentially using less fertilizers and herbicides on a given field can increase agricultural productivity. Spending less time in the field during planting season can result in lowering fuel consumption of implements and reducing emissions. • By changing tillage practices and adding cover crops, growers can have the additional benefits of restoring degraded soils, enhancing crop production and increasing microbial activity and soil biodiversity—all which contribute to carbon sequestration on each field. ARVA INTELLIGENCE is a service mark of Arva Intelligence Corp., Salt Lake City, Utah.
In conclusion, here is a summary of producer benefits that may result from precision farming and entering a carbon sequestration program: • Precision farming allows the producer to provide more timely reports for acreage and production.
COMING SOON: Payment Agreements via DocuSign
Pay As Guest Step-by-Step
Pay As Guest Fact Sheet & FAQs
Managers Bulletin MGR-23-004
Deferral of Interest Overview
Tap/Click to learn more!
Farmers and ranchers deal with a variety of extremes – prolonged heat, excess moisture, severe weather, low commodity prices – the list goes on. With traditional, federal crop insurance programs, the protection is fixed, which could result in a missed opportunity for the commodity for that year. This is why we strive to provide innovative ways to supplement that federal coverage. Check out some of our unique product offerings, unlike any others in the industry! BOOST-Max allows a producer to elect bands of coverage at higher coverage levels than those offered through the Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) program, coupled with current prices. The BOOST-Max Advantage: • Benefit from record-high corn and soybean prices! • Protect the value of your crop now all the way to a 95% coverage level trigger point. • Set your guarantee using the daily offered prices at high bands of coverage. • Flexible ranges of coverage allow for precise customization on insured bushels. • An indemnity, when triggered, will be paid once harvest prices are discovered for the elected commodity. • All-in-one system - quote, bind and pre-fill the app in one spot! NEW for the 2024 Reinsurance Year (RY), Cash Lease Insurance Protection (Cash Lease) allows a producer to elect bands of coverage at higher coverage levels to protect against a loss of revenue. This first-of-its-kind product provides the landlord and tenant reassurance that cash lease obligations will be fulfilled in the event the tenant experiences a revenue decline.
Marketing Communications Manager
Senior Marketing Communications Specialist
Lexi Schroeder
Variable Interval Product (VIP™) provides the potential for a higher revenue protection guarantee than the base coverage established on the underlying Revenue Protection (RP), Area Revenue Protection (ARPI) or Margin Protection (MP and MP-HPO) plans of insurance. Producers may add one or more alternative price discovery periods (intervals), of which the highest would be used to establish the revenue guarantee for loss purposes when applicable. A VIP policy may have a loss if the selected interval’s price is higher than the projected and harvest prices. • The Multi-Practice Endorsement provides more flexibility by giving producers the ability to customize their coverage for irrigated and non-irrigated practices with distinct coverage levels. When more than one practice exists on a policy, losses are paid on an enterprise unit by practice basis (within a county). • The Margin Protection (MP) Input Cost Endorsement (ICE) is available on both MP and MP-HPO (Harvest Price Option) plans with options between 5% and 10% in 1% increments. This election sets a maximum decline on input cost from expected to final cost. Whatever your peril woes, chances are we have tools in our box to help. Sit down with your Hudson Crop agent or sales representative to chat about the options that could best fit your agricultural risk management plan.
And Justice for All
Language Assistance
Accessibility Accommodation Plans & ADA Requirements
Helpful Resources
• And Justice for All Poster
• Language Assistance Poster
Click to download the most recent (Sept. 2019) high resolution PDF.
ADA requirements
A checklist for existing facilities
• Filing a Program Complaint
• Reach out to info@hudsoncrop.com for available Ethics Training opportunities.
• “I Speak” Card
Vice President - Operations
Cash Lease acts as a layer of protection against a harvest price decline in relation to the "buy-price," regardless of crop conditions, not to mention daily price offers that provide flexibility when setting the guarantee! • Available for corn and soybeans to those who cash rent land in IL, IN, IA, KY, MI, MN, MO, NE and OH. • To gain access to our integrated quoting tool that allows agents to quote, bind and pre-fill the application, licensed Hudson agents must first train via webinar. Also new for RY 2024 is DRP Price Enhancement Coverage (DPEC), a product designed to provide additional price coverage to an existing DRP Quarterly Coverage Endorsement (QCE). As markets change, DPEC allows producers to enhance their existing DRP coverage by electing from a range of daily price offers. Coverage highlights and eligibility: • Available for class pricing option. • A federally subsidized QCE must be bound for DPEC to be eligible for quoting and purchasing. • Besides price, all other QCE elections apply towards DPEC, including coverage level and production quantity. • DPEC will be available for purchase whenever daily prices exceed the underlying federal QCE by more than $1.00. • Sales closing follows the quarterly sales closing for the underlying DRP policy. • Daily sales close at 10:00 AM CST.
To learn more about or to begin selling these 2024 offerings, contact your Hudson Crop agent or Sales Representative.
Sales Closing
Product
Coverage Type
Risk
3/15/2024
BOOST-Max
Individual and County coverage
Price/Margin
Cash Lease Revenue Protection
Price
Quarterly
DPEC
Revenue coverage
9/30/2023
VIP Margin Protection ICE
Individual coverage
2022 Agent Scorecard
Cultivating Agricultural Resilience: Revolutionizing Risk Assessment and Portfolio Diversification
Pursuit of Excellence At Hudson Crop, our unwavering commitment to excellence is our guiding star. We diligently explore every avenue, leaving no stone unturned in conducting meticulous and precise risk assessments. This dedication eliminates any potential for oversight. By strictly adhering to these exacting standards, we equip ourselves with well-informed insights to seize opportunities confidently. Integrity: Forging Trust with Transparency Integrity stands as the cornerstone of our relationships. Every interaction is characterized by transparency, forthrightness and ethical decision-making. Through this consistent embodiment of integrity, we cultivate an environment of trust, fostering strong connections with clients, partners and insureds. Agent-Centric Partnership: A Collaborative Route to Shared Success Our path to transformation is intricately woven with our valued agents, solidified by the framework set forth by the SRA (Standard Reinsurance Agreement). This foundation is built on trust, dependability and a joint dedication to achievement. Through ongoing efforts, we cultivate enduring bonds with our agents, who play a pivotal role in our operations. This collaborative environment serves as a melting pot for a wide array of ideas and expertise. The resulting synergy ignites innovation, driving us toward previously unexplored milestones. At Hudson Crop, we're dedicated to enhancing agricultural resilience through ongoing risk assessment and portfolio diversification. As we embark on this transformative journey, our goal is to optimize risk assessment, and our portfolio guides us. Rooted in a vision of excellence, integrity and innovation, we're poised to lead and leave a lasting legacy. Our core values — excellence, integrity and an agent-centric approach — fuel our success in the ever-evolving agricultural landscape.
"If there is a problem or a request, they handle it right away."
"Ronnetta is fabulous!!!!"
"Claim adjusters always professional, courteous and knowledgeable. My farmers appreciate all their hard work and punctuality when working claims too. Bob McCrumb, Dylan Giebner, Kyle Kerr, and Emily Smith all get 5 Stars."
"System performance and policy workflow are much improved. Farmer/Landlord link, Fast Edit Coverage, Mapping Enhancements, integrated parcel layer, and PRF workflow are the best in the industry."
"Very helpful in finding the answers I need and encouraging me to grow my business with additional products."
"Hudson training is always efficient and helpful."
"The team is very helpful and strives to understand grower needs and meet and exceed their expectations."
Agricultural Underwriting Director
Andy Melton
In the dynamic landscape of modern agriculture, adaptability and forward-thinking strategies are paramount. At Hudson, we recognize the pivotal role that risk assessment and portfolio diversification play in ensuring sustainability. Our steadfast commitment is to seamlessly integrate these strategies into our existing framework, initiating a phase of revolutionary advancement. In this dialog, we delve into our resolute mission, visionary aspirations and steadfast values as we pave the way for an agricultural future fortified with resilience. Elevating Risk Assessment and Optimizing Portfolios Our objective revolves around the elevation of risk assessment and the optimization of our portfolio. We believe using advanced methods and technologies can create a balanced and robust portfolio. Our focal point lies in optimizing the portfolio, methodical diversification, climate-related challenges and unforeseen adversities. Our objective empowers us with the insights and resources essential for thriving amidst the ever-evolving agricultural arena. Pioneering Excellence, Integrity and Innovation Our vision is anchored in excellence, integrity and innovation that sets industry benchmarks. By envisioning a future where these principles distinguish us as the epitome of exceptional risk assessment and portfolio diversification, we commit ourselves to a standard of unparalleled dedication. The foundation of our journey lies in developing long-lasting relationships by building trust and reliability with our agents. Our progress is powered by teamwork within our organization and with external partners, driving us toward our envisioned goal. We strive to leave an enduring imprint on the agricultural landscape through innovative approaches to risk assessment. Guiding Transformation As we continue integrating risk assessment and portfolio diversification into the fabric of our operations, our transformation is firmly guided by a set of foundational values.
Grapevine Crop Policy Updates
With the overall investment principle per acre and value of the fruit per ton, one can see the obvious importance of the Grapevine policy. Losing just one row of vines comes at a significant cost — including the costs associated with regrafting and ultimately waiting for that vine to reach adequate production numbers. Losses and Claims: The Grapevine policy is patterned after other tree-based dollar amount programs and provides an indemnity for vines that are damaged during the insurance period by the previously mentioned perils. Claims will be limited to loss due to complete destruction or death of the vine. Losses for partial damage are not included under the Grapevine program. While both grape programs are federally subsidized and administered by the RMA, the vine replacement program is different and separate from the existing Grape and Table Grape Crop Insurance Programs, which cover losses related to the production of the fruit itself. Coverage Once the program becomes available, producers will be able to purchase the vine insurance through existing crop insurance agents. Note that for grapevines to be insured, they must (at a minimum) be adapted to the area and grown for the purpose of producing grapes intended to be sold as fruit, wine or juice for human consumption. Coverage will be offered on grafted vines only and no partial damage losses will be considered. A minimum number of vines per acre are required for insurability and is specified in the Special Provisions of the policy. One must apply for coverage on or before November 1, with coverage attaching on December 1. The year one applies, the Approved Insurance Provider (AIP – Hudson) will inspect the grapevines and notify the producer if any of the grapevines are not insurable. The policy is an auto renewal policy, meaning it is continuous, unless the agent is notified of the intent to cancel.
The amount of protection is based on the vine reference price applicable to each different stage of the insurable vines. Vines are grouped into stages to establish the Vine Reference Price (VRP) used to determine coverage. There are three different stages based on the number of months since the vine was set out, at the time insurance attaches. If at least 75 percent of the vines in a block fall within the same stage, the entire block may be considered the same stage. The dollar amount of protection for the unit is based on the number of insurable vines in each stage-block multiplied by the applicable VRP and price percentage elected for the type. These results are totaled for each stage and multiplied by the coverage level elected for the type. The producer will select one coverage level, ranging from 50 to 75 percent and one percentage of price election up to 100 percent of the VRP for each type insured in the county. Higher coverage levels are subsidized at lower rates, and the premium subsidy is at least 55 percent of the premium. Premium and administrative fees are due annually. There are two forms of optional coverage available in conjunction with the Grapevine policy. Both require the producer to elect a coverage level above the CAT level (50 percent coverage level at 55 percent of the price election). 1. For an additional premium, the producer can elect the OLO. The OLO doesn’t change the amount of protection; however, it allows indemnities to be paid on smaller losses that are at least five percent. 2. For a premium discount, a producer may elect the Freeze Protection Option (FPO). This option is available if a producer has freeze protection practices in place that are recognized by industry experts.
For the 2024 and succeeding crop years, the Risk Management Agency (RMA) introduced a new 508(h) policy entitled “Grapevine Crop Policy.” This new policy has additional features not included in the standard MPCI Grape program. Features include: • Vine-based dollar amount of insurance that provides coverage for specific types of grafted grapevines in select counties in California, Idaho, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington; • Mortality coverage for vine losses in the event of freeze, hail, flood, fire, failure of irrigation water supply (if caused by an unavoidable naturally occurring event during the insurance period), insects and plant diseases. (No partial damage will be covered); • Coverage levels between 50 and 75 percent, with optional catastrophic (CAT) coverage or the Occurrence Loss Option (OLO); and • The Sales Closing, Acreage Reporting and Cancellation Dates for the 2024 crop year are November 1, 2023. Policy Background: Insurance industry representatives in key production regions requested a product to protect producers against perils that can destroy vines. While the perils for each policy are similar in nature, keep in mind that this policy covers the vines themselves, and the fruit is covered under the MPCI policy. As the 508(h) program was developed, industry experts paneled grape growers discussing the need for such a policy. Based on the information gathered, planting an acre of grapevines can range from $30,000 to more than $100,000 in investment dollars. To put those costs into perspective, the planting process involves soil preparation, purchasing and planting the vines, installing irrigation systems, trellis network and ultimately a waiting period of three to five years or more before the vines mature and produce fruit that is worthy of going into a bottle for wine or juice. Once the grapes are mature and ready to be used or sold for production needs, one can estimate a return of $2,500 to $5,000 per ton of fruit.
For more policy information and/or to sign up for Grapevine coverage, please visit with your Hudson Crop insurance agent or Sales Representative.
Pssst, billing season on the brain? Buzz over to The Billing Beat to learn about our new Pay as Guest functionality, easing the premium payment experience for everyone!
Traci Provence
Tools & Tech Generating Excitement
Ease of business is critical in our world – the ever-evolving technology world and the crop insurance industry. This is exactly why we put our core values and strategies to the test daily, challenging what we do and how we can do it better. Innovation and dedication to technology is woven into the fabric of our culture, directly benefiting our agency partners, farmers and ranchers. While we have an endless list of tools and technologies that promote efficiency, accuracy and ease-of-business, we’d like to spotlight a couple of our latest digital enhancements that are generating excitement. DocuSign®: Livestock may be newer to crop insurance, but we’re not new to Livestock. Along with our dedicated team of Livestock experts, we offer the tools necessary to service farmers and ranchers in those critical, fast-paced and short-lived sales periods. Save time and streamline your livestock workflow with a paperless sales process. Agents can electronically process an application and/or endorsement, sign and automatically attach to Hudson -- all while meeting rapid sales deadlines and RMA guidelines. Reach out to our expert Livestock Team with questions or to request a demo! livestock@hudsoninsgroup.com Livestock not your line of business? We already have the ball MOO-ving toward implementing this functionality for MPCI and Private Products! Precision Ready Once that application is signed, it’s all about the data from the field. We’re ready to help make data entry fast, simple and accurate with LESS paper. With Precision Data, growers can report their acres “as planted” and streamline the entire crop insurance reporting process. With just a handful of policyholders utilizing this tool in 2022, we experienced a substantial usage increase in 2023 with close to 80,000 acres reported via precision technology. While we are always evaluating and enhancing our processes, we are very excited about this win and look forward to further streamlining the reporting process for agents and growers.
Click/Tap here for an interactive way to select where you are in the crop or livestock insurance cycle and view the Hudson tools and technologies in place to help manage the load and service your customers with less paper, clicks and hours spent.
Precision Farming Q&A
Calibration Bundle
I'm ready to get going...
WE NEED YOUR HELP! Having policyholder and agent email addresses on file in the eHarvest® Processing System is becoming more and more crucial for various digital features to seamlessly flow. Please ensure that in your interactions with policyholders, you are confirming both the presence and accuracy of their email address and cell phone number. It is good business practice to confirm contact information each time you meet with a policyholder. Likewise, if your contact information changes, please be sure to update this with Hudson. This simple addition to your workflow will make the overall experience for you and your customers the most streamlined and positive it can be when it comes to adopting our new and improved digital efficiencies!
NON DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT: Hudson Insurance Company is an equal opportunity provider. In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices and employees and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and compliant filing deadlines vary by program or incident. The information contained in this publication is provided for informational purposes only and is not provided as a substitute for advice from legal counsel regarding the content or interpretation of any law, regulation or rule. The information provided shall not revise, supplement or alter an insurance policy in any manner, nor is it intended as a substitute for advice from a risk management expert or legal counsel you may retain for your own purposes. eHarvest is a registered trademark of Hudson Insurance Company, Stamford, Connecticut. DocuSign in a registered trademark of DocuSign, Inc. San Francisco, CA. GoToWebinar is a registered trademark of GoTo Technologies USA, Inc. Boston, Massachusetts. Policies for admitted coverages are underwritten by Hudson Insurance Company. DPEC is underwritten by a non-admitted insurer in the Hudson Insurance Group. Hudson Insurance Group and its affiliated companies are equal opportunity providers. ©2023 Hudson Insurance Group. Hudson Insurance Company is an equal opportunity employer.
True to our core...
ARTICLE 1
article information here
Record Retention
A letter from President - Dan Gasser
Training Specialist
Leesha Heins
TAB 4
TAB 3
TAB 2
TAB 1
