The USDA’s Risk Management Agency issued a statement that will be welcome news for cotton growers in California and Arizona. The 1 in 4 rule for preventive planting insurance will be suspended for the 2023 crop year. This rule was implemented a couple of years ago that required growers to plant a crop in 1 out of 4 years to be eligible for preventive planting insurance, which particularly impacted acres in California and Arizona affected by water cutbacks due to drought. Other crops are included in this relief in both states including corn and grain sorghum. Farm groups including California Cotton Growers and Arizona Cotton Growers are continuing to work with USDA and other groups to form a permanent solution to this issue.
