BULLETIN NO.: MGR-96-017

TO:      All Reinsured Companies
         All Risk Management Field Offices
         FSA Headquarters, Program Delivery and Field Operations

FROM:    Kenneth D. Ackerman
         Deputy Administrator

SUBJECT: Self-Certified Claims Processing for Replant Payments


BACKGROUND:

Economies are being sought that will reduce administrative costs of the 
multiple peril crop insurance program while maintaining program integrity.   
As part of this effort, an analysis was conducted which concluded that 
self-certified replant (SCR) acreage could be increased from the current 
approved 25 gross acres (before share) without sacrificing program integrity.   
The analysis evaluated increasing the SCR acreage to provide payment amounts 
at or near the $1,000 limit established for certain self-certified claims 
processed under guidelines recently approved and announced by Bulletin No.:  
MGR-96-005. 

ACTION:

Beginning with 1996 spring planted crops, acreage may be self-certified for 
replant claims for up to 50 gross acres.  Crops eligible for SCR payments are 
corn, dry beans, grain sorghum, peanuts, popcorn, soybeans, sugar beets, and 
sunflowers.  The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) 30010, Loss 
Adjustment Manual (LAM), will be revised to reflect this change.  All other 
LAM procedures applicable in determining replant claims apply.  Replant 
payments are available on limited and additional coverage policies only.

Individual circumstances must be recognized and appropriate underwriting 
measures taken to avoid program abuse.  For example:

1.  Care must be extended to avoid providing certification of replant claims 
    that exceed 50 gross  acres.  
2.  A policyholder who is suspected of past program abuse will not be 
    permitted to certify replant acreage.
3.  When a replant claim occurs in an area where the cause of loss reported 
    is isolated or unusual or few other replant claims are reported, an 
    inspection should be made mandatory.