The first-of-its-kind pilot program is a result of six years of TPI support for its development.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency created Turfgrass Value Select, a new insurance program designed specifically for turfgrass sod producers, developed with the help of TPI over the course of the last six years.
A first of its kind for the sod industry, TVS will be available as a pilot program in select counties across 10 states, launched July 1. It allows producers to select a dollar amount of coverage for irrigated turfgrass types they choose based on their expected inventory and risk management needs. Producers who purchase TVS can choose to add on the Occurrence Loss Option for shallow coverage or Hurricane Insurance Protection – Wind Index coverage.
TPI Executive Director Casey Reynolds, PhD, was key part of the program’s development from its start about six years ago. While the USDA-RMA has offered crop insurance for many years, but in talking with sod farmers in his first few years on the job, Reynolds heard that the Non-Insured Disaster Assistance and Whole Farm Revenue Protection Programs weren’t a good fit for sod.
“We approached USDA-RMA back in 2020 to seek approval for creating a specialty crop insurance program that is specific to our industry,” says Reynolds. “Over the last few years, we have worked with USDA-RMA to visit sod farms to hear directly from producers so we could develop this new program.”
Reynolds met with USDA-RMA staff May 19 at their Washington D.C. headquarters to get final approval for TVS.
“The development of TVS supports our goals of advocating for the sod industry and connecting natural grass producers directly with policymakers,” says Reynolds. “This program has been years in the making, and we’re proud to have helped in its creation.”
TPI is currently working with private crop insurance companies who sell TVS to raise awareness of this program. Anyone interested in purchasing this new insurance product should contact their local crop insurance agent to learn more. You can also click here to read USDA-RMA’s press release that includes links to find your local crop insurance agent.
The new pilot program is available in select counties in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas.
