November 4, 1997
     
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM:  R&D-97-079
          
TO:       All Reinsured Companies
          All Risk Management Field Offices
     
FROM:     Tim B. Witt        /s/ ROBERTA E. WAGGONER (for)
          Deputy Administrator
     
SUBJECT:  Release of 1998 Crop Year Actuarial Materials With November 30
          and Later Contract Change Dates
     
The actuarial filing that is being released today reflects changes
proposed for the basic provisions and certain crop provisions that have
not yet been published as a Final Rule.  Since this release affects
crops with contract change dates of November 30 and December 31, it is
being released now for the purpose of facilitating reproduction/
distribution of materials and to provide lead time for preliminary
development of training programs/materials.  
     
Since it is possible that a particular crop or the basic provisions may
not make Final Rule publication, companies and agents should make no
sales commitments based on this information until publication of the
Final Rules in the Federal Register.  Additionally, the current version
of the 1998 premium calculation software is being modified to
incorporate changes that will be required for 1998 spring seeded crops
(crops with a contract change date of November 30 or later).  A new
version will be released within the next 30 days. 
     
Should certain provisions not make Final Rule publication, RMA will
advise by the applicable contract change date of the actuarial materials
effective for the 1998 crop year.