INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM: R&D-96-079

TO:      All Reinsured Companies
         All Risk Management Agency Field Offices
         FSA Headquarters, Program Delivery & Field Operations
     
FROM:    Tim B. Witt     /S/ ROBERTA WAGGONER (for) 12/03/96
         Acting Deputy Administrator
     
SUBJECT: Issuance of the Summary of New Program Development Data
         Requirements (FCIC-23020)
     
BACKGROUND:   
     
The Summary of New Crop Program Development Data Requirements has been
updated to incorporate the following major changes effective
immediately.
     
1.  The title has been revised to "Summary of New Program Development
     Data Requirements."
     
2.  Organizational titles have been revised to be consistent with the
     Risk Management Agency's (RMA) organizational structure.
     
3.  The purpose has been expanded to clarify the use of the summary by
     requesters of new programs and to reference the more detailed New
     Program Development Handbook.
     
4.  The importance of providing maximum usable data for program
     development has been given greater emphasis.
     
5.  The economic thresholds are now identified as expansion
     prioritization considerations rather than mandatory levels for
     expansion consideration.
     
6.  The data requirements in Section 2 have been rearranged somewhat to
     avoid duplication and facilitate their use.
7.  The "Risk Profile and Analysis" section has been expanded to include
     the insurance experience of other programs in the area (determined
     by RMA), and the potential impact of the proposed program on other
     producers.
     
8.  Greater detail has been added to clarify some of the data
     requirements. 
     
ACTION:
       
Replace the Summary of New Crop Program Development Data Requirements
(no directive number) with the attached Summary of New Program
Development Data Requirements (FCIC-23020), dated November 21, 1996. 
This directive and the New Program Development Handbook (FCIC-23010) are
available through the Research and Evaluation Division's Internet home
page at the Web Site location http://www.act.fcic.usda.gov/research.  If
you have any questions about either of these directives, please contact
the Research and Evaluation Division at (816) 926-6343.
     
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