In mid-February, FMH leadership, CIRB Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) members, and 135 crop insurance industry professionals gathered in San Diego, California for the 55th Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau’s (CIRB) Annual Meeting. Throughout the three days, industry leaders’ presentations and discussions focused around the future of crop insurance and the new farm bill.

Tracy Klever, 2019 CIRB ELP member and FMH Training and Development Assistant Vice President, said, “I especially enjoyed Jim Wiesemeyer’s [Pro Farmer] presentation on volatile politics and policy as well as Kurt Henke’s take on the outcome of the 2018 Farm Bill and subsequent impacts to crop insurance.”

In addition, attendees had several opportunities throughout the event to network and meet with industry leaders and professionals.

“The CIRB annual meeting provided representatives from AIPs and reinsuring companies valuable analysis of trends affecting the agricultural industry, whether it relates to climate, politics, or agribusiness overall,” said Ryan Kramer, 2019 CIRB ELP member and FMH Compliance Assistant Vice President. “Additionally, we learned a great deal regarding the political climate and how that ties into the federal program, whether specific to the farm bill or House and Senate Ag Committee priorities.”

The meeting concluded after a day of golf at the Madears Golf Club, followed by the closing ceremony where Ron Rutledge awarded the 2019 Chairman’s Award to House of Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson.