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IMPACT OF CLIMATE INFORMATION ON REDUCING FARM RISK BY OPTIMIZING CROP INSURANCE STRATEGY

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  Transactions of the ASABE. 49(4): 1223-1233. (doi: 10.13031/2013.21722) @2006
Authors:   V. E. Cabrera, C. W. Fraisse, D. Letson, G. Podestá, J. Novak
Keywords:   Coefficient of relative risk aversion, El Niño Southern Oscillation, ENSO, Farm programs, Government intervention, Value of climate information

Predictability of seasonal climate variability associated with the El Nio Southern Oscillation (ENSO) suggests a potential to reduce farm risk by selecting crop insurance products with the purpose of increasing farm income stability. A hypothetical 50% peanut, 50% cotton, non-irrigated, 40 ha (100 ac) north Florida farm was used to study the interactions of different crop insurance products with ENSO-based climate information and levels of risk aversion under uncertain conditions of climate and prices. Crop yields simulated by the DSSAT suite of crop models using multiyear weather data combined with historical series of prices were used to generate long series of stochastic income distributions in a whole-farm model portfolio. The farm model optimized planting dates and simulated uncertain incomes for 50 alternative crop insurance combinations for different levels of risk aversion under different planning horizons. Results suggested that incomes are greatest and most stable for low risk-averse farmers when catastrophic (CAT) insurance for cotton and 70% or 75% actual production history (APH) for peanut are selected in all ENSO phases. For high risk-averse farmers, the best strategy depends on the ENSO phase: (1) 70% crop revenue coverage (CRC) or CAT for cotton and 65% APH for peanut during EL Nio years; (2) CAT for cotton and 65%, 70%, or 75% APH for peanut during neutral years; and (3) 65% to 70% APH, or CAT for cotton and 70% APH for peanut during La Nia years. Optimal planting dates varied for all ENSO phases, risk aversion levels, and selected crop insurance products.

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