Langevin Applauds URI for Winning $200K Agricultural Grant

Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) commended the University of Rhode Island today on securing a $206,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture to provide risk management and crop insurance education for Rhode Island growers. The Federal Crop Insurance Program helps farmers stay afloat through periods of low prices or in the wake of natural disasters. Small farmers are the most vulnerable to these price shocks.

Funding comes from an initiative started by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), operating through the Risk Management Agency (RMA), which is supporting cooperative agreements under the Risk Management Education in Targeted States Program. Eligible states include Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, among others.

The grant is designed to help deliver crop insurance education and information to U.S. agricultural producers in states where there is traditionally, and continues to be, a low level of federal crop insurance participation and availability, and producers are underserved by the Federal Crop Insurance Program.

“The state’s agricultural community, with its great potential to expand, should be one of the focal points in our work to boost Rhode Island’s economy,” said Langevin. “I applaud the leaders at URI who have spearheaded the effort to win this grant and who have committed to ensuring our farmers have the resources they need to be as successful as possible.”