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Group Risk Plan Rangeland Program New Index Research & Development In September of 2002, RMA contracted with Watts and Associates to review the Group Risk Plan Rangeland Pilot Crop Insurance Program (GRP Rangeland), adopted in 1999. There was some question as to whether the program should be terminated, modified, made into a permanent program, or left alone. The purpose of this contract was to investigate the future of this program. Following an extensive program review, we recommended expansion of the current pilot area and development of an alternative index, resulting in an improved product for the ranchers in the current pilot area. RMA contracted with Watts and Associates in September 2003 to research the alternative index and again in April 2004 to prepare the new program materials necessary to implement the recommendations. Following an intensive development effort in the spring of 2004, we submitted program components intended to fulfill the objectives of replacing the existing index for the 2005 grazing season and expanding the existing program. The expansion adds 27 Montana counties and 10 Wyoming counties (all light green) from the 12 Montana counties (dark green) covered under the previous program. 
The Group Risk Plan Rangeland Pilot Crop Insurance Program, New Index and Pilot Area Expansion was approved by the FCIC Board on October 28, 2004 for implementation beginning the 2005 grazing year. We are currently developing a supplemental training package for agents and trainers to accompany the GRP Rangeland Pilot Program. This package is to educate insurance agents with the conditions and terms of the Group Risk Plan Common Insurance Policy. |
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