The minimum coverage level provided by the RMA is called:

Catastrophic Risk Protection (often abbreviated as CAT) is designed to provide a safety net for farmers by offering the minimum level of coverage available through the Risk Management Agency (RMA). This type of protection offers coverage for up to 50% of expected yield and pays 55% of the commodity price set by the RMA. CAT is specifically targeted at helping producers manage their financial risk in the event of crop loss due to unavoidable causes such as natural disasters.

It is generally offered at a significantly lower premium cost compared to other coverage levels, making it accessible for farmers with limited financial resources. This option ensures that even in the worst-case scenario, farmers have a basic level of financial security to help them recover from losses, which underscores its importance in the broader crop insurance landscape.

In contrast, Yield Protection and Revenue Protection provide higher levels of coverage and involve more complex calculations and premiums. Acreage Reporting is a procedural aspect related to the reporting of crop acreage but does not pertain to coverage levels.