GRAPE Act Grape Research And Protection Expansion Act
Impact
This legislation could significantly enhance risk management options for grape producers, who are often vulnerable to crop losses from unexpected freeze events. By ensuring that grape insurance becomes a structured part of federal crop insurance policy, the bill attempts to create a safety net for an important agricultural sector that contributes not only to local economies but also supports broader agricultural markets. This could lead to improved financial stability for farmers involved in viticulture, incentivizing sustainable agriculture practices.
Summary
House Bill 8359, known as the Grape Research And Protection Expansion Act, aims to amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act by requiring the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) to develop research and policies specifically aimed at insuring table, wine, and juice grapes against losses caused by freeze events. The bill mandates that, within one year of enactment, the FCIC must initiate research to create these policies. Furthermore, it stipulates that these insurance policies must be made available within 18 months after enactment, subject to compliance with existing insurance provisions.
Contention
Notable concerns surrounding HB8359 include the potential costs associated with implementing these insurance policies and whether they would adequately cover the needs of various grape producers. Some stakeholders worry about the effectiveness and timeliness of the research mandated by the bill, fearing that bureaucratic delays may hinder the availability of essential protections. Additional discussions may focus on the implications for federal funding and the sustainable allocation of resources within the agricultural insurance framework.
Grape Research And Protection Expansion Act or the GRAPE ActThis bill requires the federal crop insurance program (FCIP) to provide for the research and development of a policy to insure table, wine, and juice grapes against losses due to a freeze event. (Under current law, the term policy means an insurance policy, plan of insurance, provision of a policy or plan of insurance, and related materials.) The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, the agency that finances FCIP operations, must make any resulting policy available that meets specified FCIP requirements.The FCIP must also submit a report to Congress on the research and any resulting policy.