Paul Mitchell, Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Wisconsin – Madison
Last week the USDA-RMA released information on a new type of crop insurance policy called Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) that is now available in 11 Wisconsin counties. Here is a link to a 3 page fact sheet (http://www.aae.wisc.edu/pdmitchell/CropInsurance/WheatSCO.pdf), or see my extension web page (http://www.aae.wisc.edu/pdmitchell/extension.htm). The fact sheet explains the SCO concept, plus provides some details and brief recommendations. SCO eligibility is tied to the upcoming Farm Bill commodity support choices farmers will make sometime this fall or winter. Also, SCO will be available for corn and soybeans next spring for most Wisconsin counties, so this is in some sense a prelude of things to come.
Feel free to use the fact sheet as you wish in your local newsletters and similar and please call or email with questions.