Actual Production History Yield Exclusion
Revised Dec 18, 2014

The APH YE is a provision of the 2014 Farm Bill that allows for the exclusion of an actual yield for a crop year when RMA determines the county per planted acre yield for a crop year was at least 50 percent below the simple average of the per planted acre yield for the crop in the county for the previous 10 consecutive crop years. When a crop year is determined to be eligible for YE for a crop in a county, producers in contiguous counties will also be eligible to exclude their actual yield for that crop year under YE. Separate determinations will be made for irrigated and non-irrigated acreage, when data is available. The YE option will be listed in the county actuarial documents showing the crop and eligible crop year(s) for exclusion.

YE allows a producer to exclude an actual yield(s) from an eligible crop year for the county (such as a year in which a natural disaster or other extreme weather event occurs) from their production history when calculating approved APH yields used to establish their crop insurance coverage. The level of insurance coverage available to a producer is based on the producer’s average yields over the four to ten most recent crop years and excluding lower yielding eligible crop years can increase the producer’s approved APH yield. 

YE will be available nationwide for counties where the actuarial documents identify the crop and eligible crop years beginning with spring 2015 crops.

To get this benefit, you must elect the YE option on a crop insurance application or policy change form by the sales closing date. Consult with your crop insurance agent to make this election.

A crop year is only eligible to be excluded when county yields are at least 50 percent below the county average for the last 10 consecutive crop years. Only an actual yield(s) for an eligible crop year identified in the county actuarial documents for the crop can be excluded from calculation of your approved APH yield. A producer cannot simply exclude a crop year just because the producer’s individual yield is low that crop year.

An eligible crop year is a crop year determined by RMA to be eligible for yield exclusion for a crop in a county. For a crop year to be eligible for yield exclusion, the average per planted acre yield for the county must be at least 50 percent below the simple average for the previous 10 consecutive crop years. A crop year determined eligible for exclusion for a crop in a county, will also be eligible for exclusion in contiguous counties. Eligible crops and crop years will be listed on the county actuarial documents.

RMA data will be the primary data used to determine the average per planted acre yield for the county and the simple average for the previous 10 consecutive crop years, if sufficient RMA data exists. If RMA data is not sufficient for any given crop year, RMA will use NASS data if there is sufficient NASS data available at the appropriate irrigated/non-irrigated level for the crop year. If neither sufficient RMA nor NASS data is available, RMA may use, in a limited number of situations, the transitional yield from the county to complete the 10 year average. A crop year will not be eligible if there is not sufficient information to determine the average per planted acre yield for the county, or the 10 year average did not have enough years of sufficient data. Due to limited data availability, the earliest year that RMA may identify as being eligible to be excluded will be 1995, which will use data from 1985 thru 1994 to determine the 10 year average.

The production reporting date of the immediately preceding crop year falls within the current crop year. Since this overlap occurs, the analysis needed to determine if that crop year is eligible to be excluded cannot be completed prior to the timeframe required to publish eligible crop years for the YE option, thus creating a lag year.

No. Although YE universally applies to all actual yields in eligible crop years for exclusion as identified in the actuarial documents when it is elected, if you do not want to exclude an actual yield for an eligible crop year you must notify your agent by the production reporting date.

Yes. Although YE universally applies to all actual yields for an eligible crop year to be excluded as identified in the actuarial documents when elected, you can choose by APH database if you want to retain an actual yield eligible for exclusion by notifying your agent by the production reporting date.

No. The YE option is continuous (it does not have to be re-elected) and will continue to apply until you cancel it. Keep in mind that any new actual yields that are eligible for exclusion (such as a new crop year becomes available for exclusion) will be automatically excluded unless you notify your agent by the production reporting date that you do not want to exclude the actual yield(s).

There is no limit to the number of actual yields in eligible crop years that can be excluded from an APH database. However, additional steps must be taken if less than 4 years of yields occur in your APH database (see following question and answer).

If the exclusion of actual yields for eligible crop year(s) results in less than four years of yields in the APH database, the applicable T-Yield is used to maintain the minimum base period of four years.

You can cancel the YE option in writing on or before the cancellation date for the crop to be effective for the current crop year.

You can change each crop year whether you want to exclude or retain an actual yield in an eligible crop year, as long as you notify your agent by the production reporting date for the current crop year the change is to be in effect.

When you transfer your policy to a different AIP, the YE option is cancelled. If you wish to have YE, you must elect YE on your policy with the new AIP on or before the SCD.

An increased approved yield results in a higher insurance guarantee, and greater indemnity payments, than would otherwise have occurred. This requires an increase in the premium rate charged to producers using YE in order to account for the increased risk of loss. For example, a grower with a 65 percent coverage level may, through the use of YE, get a yield guarantee equivalent to a higher level of coverage, such as 70 percent. The amount of premium charged will reflect the higher effective level of coverage (i.e., 70 percent), and higher risk of loss, provided by your decision to use the YE option. Only producers who elect and use the YE option will have premium adjusted due to APH YE, and other producers will not be affected. Additional information on the premium rating approach to YE is available on RMA’s website.

Yes. You can elect and apply both yield substitutions (YA) and YE on a policy and within an APH database. However, only one option, either YE or YA, can be applied to an actual yield for an eligible crop year within an APH database.

Only actual yields in an APH database, which are based on the actual production reported by the producer, are eligible for exclusion when an eligible crop year is identified in the actuarial documents.

Yes. However, when an actual yield for an eligible crop year is excluded, an excluded actual yield is not considered for TA purposes.