Prior to the creation of the Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) Program, which insurance was the most commonly sold to protect crops?

Prior to the establishment of the Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) Program, coverage for hail damage was the predominant form of insurance used to safeguard crops. This type of insurance primarily focused on providing protection specifically against hail-related damages, which can be particularly devastating to crops. Farmers often relied on this targeted form of coverage due to its simplicity and its direct relevance to crop loss caused by hailstorms, a common agricultural risk.

While other options, such as Crop Loss Insurance, Annual Farm Policy, and Specialty Crop Insurance, address broader or different aspects of agricultural risk, they did not provide the specialized focus that hail damage coverage offered at that time. Farmers needed a straightforward solution for the immediate risk presented by hail, making hail damage coverage the go-to insurance prior to the comprehensive approach introduced by the MPCI Program.