Claims Resources and FAQ

We Have the Service You Need

Since 1919, Rain and Hail has been a trusted provider of agricultural risk management to farmers and ranchers throughout the U.S. Our belief in bringing the best service platform means providing the best people and the best systems to support our customers. We are confident that our people and claims systems will provide reliable service and quick responses to our customers during a time they need it most.

The purpose of the following material is to promote awareness of risk management concepts and to highlight USDA’s risk management products, features, benefits and availability. This material does not change the content or the meaning of current policy provisions, filed actuarial documents or approved procedures.

Points to Remember for Policyholders

Stay in contact with your agent.
Notify your agent within 72 hours of the initial discovery of damage.
Continue to care for the crop and protect it against further damage, if possible.
Obtain consent from Rain and Hail prior to destroying any of the insured crop.
Sign up for Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments with Rain and Hail for expedited payments. View ACH Form [pdf]
Leave test strips.

How to File a Claim and What to Expect

Rain and Hail offers a number of quick and efficient ways for policyholders to submit claims. Starting with File a Claim, available on Agent Services, agents can assist policyholders in quickly filing a claim. From that point, there is a possibility of expedited claims via the Express Claim option.

Express Claims are processed quickly within our office based on a self-certification form and supporting documentation provided by the policyholder. Claims above the Express Claim threshold are automatically assigned to an adjuster once entered into the Rain and Hail system. The adjuster then works the loss. Adjusters have the ability to work losses electronically via the eAdjuster program. This program allows for quick and accurate claims processing. Claims are also electronically signed via eAdjuster, reducing the need to shuffle paperwork and allowing for quicker completion of claims and the insurance of indemnity payments.

RMA has authorized the continued use of the increased Simplified Claim Process (SCP) dollar tolerance:

$20,000 for Optional Units
$40,000 for Basic Units, Enterprise Units and Whole-Farm Units

For more information on the SCP procedures, please reference the current Loss Adjustment Manual (LAM).

Policyholders - please contact your agent to submit a claim
Agents - please use Agent Services' File a Claim to submit Policyholder’s claim

In lieu of a traditional check, policyholders also have the ability to sign up for ACH payments with Rain and Hail. ACH payments are direct deposited into a policyholder's bank account, providing the quickest form of claim payment. This process provides the policyholder funds in an expedited manner. Policyholders can talk to their agent to sign up for this service.

What Records Should I Keep?

Please have readily available by insurance unit for the last three (3) years any of the available items below:

Rain and Hail maps and RH1156 report or FSA 578/Maps
Settlement Sheets
Load Records
Bin Measurements
Loss Papers
Livestock Feeding Records
Verifiable Precision Farming Records
Any type of verifiable third-party record that supports your reported acres and production

Power of Attorney Reminders

An agent’s POA is limited by the Conflict of Interest provisions in the SRA. Agents should not sign claims for indemnity on behalf of insureds, even if they have a POA for the insured.

Access Claims on Your Smartphone or Tablet

File and track claims anytime, anywhere. Access the same claim information on your mobile device as on your computer by visiting the Claims page on Agent Services.

Aflatoxin

What is aflatoxin? - a fungus that increases in hot, dry weather.

Be prepared for aflatoxin in corn and other affected crops in drought areas where crops were adversely affected by severe drought stress and humid conditions.

Aflatoxin Samples

Samples for aflatoxin must be pulled prior to the grain being placed into storage.
At no time can the policyholder handle, maintain, or process the grain samples.
Only the adjuster or elevator personnel are authorized to pull grain samples for testing.
If a producer is farm storing grain and identifies aflatoxin is present during harvest, they must contact the adjuster immediately so we can pull samples before the grain is placed into farm storage.
Aflatoxin tests performed at the elevator CANNOT be used for quality adjustment on claims. We must have a separate sample pulled by either the adjuster or elevator personnel to be sent to an approved testing facility that conducts quantitative testing.
The policyholder is responsible for the fees associated with the testing.
Aflatoxin quality adjustment DOES NOT apply to silaged acres.
Sampling needs to take place on a policy line basis.

The above is NOT a complete list of all the quality adjustment requirements. If you should have any questions on aflatoxin, please contact your agent.

Acceptable Production Records

Settlement Sheets/Summaries
Farm Stored Production
Appraisals
- Test Strips - Insured’s Agreement
Precision Farming
Preparing for a Successful Review
- Actual Production History (APH) Review: A guide for preparing for a successful review [pdf]
More details...

Prevented Planting

Replants

Reference the current Loss Adjustment Manual (LAM) for replant information.

Cover Crop

Cover Crop – A crop generally recognized by agricultural experts as agronomically sound for the area for erosion control or other purposes related to conservation or soil improvement. A cover crop may be considered to be a second crop.

Insurance shall attach to a crop following a cover crop when the cover crop meets the definition provided in the Basic Provisions, was planted within the last 12 months, and is managed and terminated according to NRCS guidelines. If growing conditions warrant a deviation from the guidelines, producers should contact either Extension or the local NRCS for management guidance.

For information on cover crop management and termination guidelines, refer to the Cover Crop Termination Guidelines located in the links below:

Cover Crop Termination Guidelines [website]

*Depending on sales closing date, please apply correct guidelines to your particular crops.