TEMP Act

New frost insurance research for farmers

This bill would require the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) to carry out, or contract out, research to design a national index-based crop insurance product for losses from frost or cold weather. The research would cover crops such as tomatoes, peppers, sugarcane, strawberries, melons, citrus, peaches, and blueberries, and could include other crops. The R&D must evaluate index-based and other risk tools for low-frequency, catastrophic cold events and produce a policy that covers either production loss or revenue loss. The FCIC would have to submit results and recommendations to the House and Senate agriculture committees within 1 year of enactment. This funds research and a report now and would not immediately pay farmers.