Flood insurance legislation for farmers reintroduced

Appeal-Democrat, Marysville, Calif.Appeal-Democrat

An effort to relieve farmers of expensive flood insurance costs has been kicking around for almost a decade in Washington, D.C.

Thursday, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) and Congressman John Garamendi (D-Walnut Grove), jointly announced they have reintroduced a bill that would treat agricultural buildings used for storing crops and equipment differently than homes and commercial structures.

It’s an idea developed in Sutter County that Garamendi, who used to represent this area, and LaMalfa, who currently represents this area, have teamed up on several times—without success thus far.

Flood insurance is not affordable—almost not available at all—in the open insurance market, and has been subsidized by the federal government through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) since 1968.

Under current law, agricultural producers with property located in certain flood areas designated by FEMA are required to purchase flood insurance in order to qualify for a federally backed mortgage.

However, NFIP commercial policies charge a $250 surcharge per structure, meaning farmers with multiple barns, sheds, or storage facilities can be hit with thousands of dollars in additional costs on top of insurance premiums.

According to the joint media release, the Flood Insurance for Farmers Act would allow farmers to bundle multiple structures under a single commercial NFIP policy, meaning they would only pay one $250 surcharge instead of being charged per building.

“Farmers shouldn’t be punished just because their operations happen to be near or in a floodplain,” said Rep. LaMalfa. “The current Federal flood insurance program sticks farmers with unnecessary fees, making already expensive flood insurance even more costly, and can prevent them from getting loans to expand or make repairs. The NFIP can help America’s farmers after floods, but if it’s so expensive and cumbersome that they ultimately receive little or no benefit, then it defeats the purpose of this program. Our bill cuts through NFIP bureaucracy and reduces program costs so farmers can stay competitive and keep producing while helping them manage flood risk.”

“For generations, California families have farmed the floodplain, and this legislation ensures that they can continue to do so by keeping agricultural land in production,” said Rep. Garamendi. “Our bill protects farmers from hidden fees, unnecessary costs, and excessive paperwork, allowing them to focus on their essential work—producing the food that sustains our communities. As a former Insurance Commissioner and a farmer myself, I am committed to standing up for family farmers and fighting against unfair insurance practices. This legislation fulfills that commitment.”

“This is a plain and simple pocketbook issue that will help farmers across the country,” said Marc J. Boomgaarden, Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency board chair and vice-mayor of Yuba City. “The Sutter Basin may be rich in almonds and peaches, but our farmers need relief from flood insurance policies that view premiums for sheds the same way they view premiums for homes. The Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency is dedicated to reducing flood risks for the community and NFIP is an important component of those efforts. We applaud the commonsense approach that Congressman LaMalfa and Garamendi are working on to help farmers back home.”