In 2001, American Growers Insurance Company (“Insurer”) filed an action in Iowa district court against Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (“FCIC”) alleging that the FCIC erred under 7 U.S.C. § 1508(j)(3) by adding prevented planting coverage to basic federal crop insurance policies without increasing the premium rate that the insurance company could charge. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of the FCIC for crop year 1996 and in favor of Insurer for crop year 1997, awarding it over $950,000 in damages.

Under the Federal Crop Insurance Act, crop insurance coverage “shall not cover losses due to . . . the failure of the producer to follow good farming practices….” 7 U.S.C. § 1508(a)(3)(A)(iii). In Hobbiebrunken v. Vilsack, No. 11-1385-MLB, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2313 (D. Kan. Jan. 8, 2013), a family of farmers was denied crop insurance coverage after a failed 2009 corn crop on the grounds that they had used an inadequate seed, had not determined soil fertility, failed to have an adequate fertility plan, and did not implement appropriate weed control.

Under the Federal Crop Insurance Act, crop insurance coverage “shall not cover losses due to . . . the failure of the producer to follow good farming practices….” 7 U.S.C. § 1508(a)(3)(A)(iii). In Hobbiebrunken v. Vilsack, No. 11-1385-MLB, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2313 (D. Kan. Jan. 8, 2013), a family of farmers was denied crop insurance coverage after a failed 2009 corn crop on the grounds that they had used an inadequate seed, had not determined soil fertility, failed to have an adequate fertility plan, and did not implement appropriate weed control.