H.R. 1613 — Protecting Mushroom Farmers Act

This section directs the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) to carry out research and development (R&D), or contract with qualified persons for such R&D, on a crop insurance policy for (i) mushroom growing media production and (ii) mushroom production. (As background, FCIC administers the federal crop insurance program, reimbursing approved private insurers to offer multi-peril coverage to farmers; §522(c) identifies priority areas—including certain specialty crops—for policy R&D.) The FCIC must make an approved policy available notwithstanding limitations on insurable commodities if it meets standard approval criteria under §508(h); the R&D must evaluate policy effectiveness for risks including (i) pests such as mushroom phorid and sciarid flies, fungal pathogens, and viral pathogens; (ii) other losses such as weather-related power outages and excessive 5-, 10-, or 20-year rainfall events affecting growing media; (iii) best practices to minimize losses; (iv) single versus multi-phase coverage; (v) streamlined reporting for short cycles, variable crop years, and facility production variety; and (vi) revenue protection. Not later than two years after enactment, FCIC must report to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees on R&D results and recommendations.