INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM: R&D-97-023
  
TO:      All Reinsured Companies
         All Risk Management Field Offices
         FSA Headquarters, Program Delivery and Field Operations
     
FROM:    Tim B. Witt          /s/ TIM B. WITT  03/26/97
         Acting Deputy Administrator
     
SUBJECT: 1997 Data Acceptance System (DAS) Handbook
     
Attached is the 1997 Manual 13, Data Acceptance System and Reinsurance
Accounting System Handbook updated to include the narrative, accounting
exhibits and data reporting requirements for Revenue Assurance, CRC, IP,
1998 Florida Citrus and Avocadoes.  Additional clarifications have been
made on actuarial references, reporting requirements, and calculations. 
These issues were discussed at the November and February Data Processing
Managers' meetings, as well as in follow-up conference calls and
informational faxes.  Each company is being provided two complete copies
of the handbook.   
     
The 1998 reinsurance year reporting requirements are expected to remain
the same as in the 1997 Manual-13 other than the following known issues
which were discussed and agreed upon at the February Data Processing
Managers' Meeting.  
     
The following will require new fields or edits based on current fields:
     
--  Addition of policyholder signature date on the insurance in force,
    type 14 record.
     
--  Beginning in 1998, the record key used to link the acreage to the
    yield record and the loss to the acreage record will include an
    unique number entered by the company on each record.
     
--  Add a new field to facilitate the automated FCI-2 written agreement
    system.
     
Edit enhancements will include:
      
--  An employee identification number can only be reported once within a
    policy.
     
--  The unit guarantee and liability on the loss record cannot exceed the
     unit guarantee and liability established by the acreage records.
     
--  Validate the state and county with the zip code on the agent record.
     
Additional modifications may be required to implement any changes
contained in the 1998 Standard Reinsurance Agreement.