Library · Crops & cultivars
Crop Risk Assessment.
Crop Risk Assessment
Self-score your operation across 12 risk dimensions. Surface what's likely to fail; choose mitigation that fits the dollar value at risk.
Mitigation strategies
| Strategy | What it does | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Diversification (multiple crops) | One crop fails, others compensate | Low — operational change |
| Diversification (multiple markets) | One channel disappears, others remain | Low-medium |
| Crop insurance (USDA RMA) | Pays out on weather/yield loss | $$ premium; subsidized for many crops |
| NAP (Noninsured Crop Assistance) | USDA program for non-insurable crops (most specialty) | $ (modest fee) |
| Disaster assistance / WHIP+ | Federal emergency aid post-event | Free but slow + uncertain |
| Marketing contracts | Lock in price before harvest | Free; gives up upside |
| CSA / pre-paid customer base | Working capital + risk shared with members | Marketing effort |
| Cover crops + healthy soil | Drought + flood resilience; weed suppression | Time + seed cost |
| Irrigation backup | Insulate from drought | $$$ capital |
| Greenhouse / high tunnel | Insulate from frost, hail, pest pressure | $$$$ capital |
| Hedge inputs (e.g., fuel contracts) | Lock input cost | Free; gives up downside |
| Cash reserves | Self-insurance; covers any shock | Opportunity cost of held cash |
| Liability insurance | Lawsuit / injury coverage | $$ annual |
| Property / equipment insurance | Fire, theft, hail damage | $$ annual |
USDA crop insurance products (overview)
| Program | Covers | For who |
|---|---|---|
| RMA Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) | Yield + revenue loss from named perils (drought, hail, flood, frost, fire) | Major commodities (corn, soy, wheat, etc.) + many specialty crops |
| Whole Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) | Revenue across the whole operation | Diversified farms that don't fit single-crop policies |
| NAP (Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program) | Crops not covered by RMA insurance — specialty veg, fruit, nursery, herbs | Most small-farm specialty crops; FSA office |
| Micro Farm Policy | Simplified WFRP for farms under $350K revenue | Small diversified farms; new in recent years |
| Apiculture | Pasture / range conditions for honeybees | Beekeepers; rainfall index |
| Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF) | Rainfall index for forage | Livestock + hay producers |
USDA premiums are heavily subsidized. Talk to your local FSA office or licensed crop insurance agent (RMA-approved). Sign-up deadlines vary by crop and region — typically several months before planting.
Free under CC BY 4.0. Cite as "OAT Crop Risk Assessment (openagriculturetechnology.com)". Educational only — not insurance advice. Consult a licensed agent and your local FSA / RMA office for actual coverage decisions.