Hawaii Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PRF)
Hawaii PRF: Protection for Ranchers
PRF (Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage) insurance offers ranchers highly customizable protection against below average precipitation. Indemnity (payment) is based on the number of pasture acres insured and is triggered when precipitation for a specific area falls below its historic average during a specific time period. For more information, listen to this podcast from Livestock Wala'au.
Why Insure?
All ranchers are affected by lack of precipitation. PRF insurance offers two key advantages:
- PRF is Smart: The USDA subsidizes premium amounts up to 59%, making this an affordable and beneficial tool for many ranchers.
- PRF is Simple: Precipitation and historic averages are determined by the Hawaii Climate Data Portal (HCDP), which means data, not an adjuster, determines indemnity.
Why Choose EastCo Group?
We're ranchers who are PRF experts. Each PRF policy can and should be different: Every rancher has a different level of risk tolerance and different goals. EastCo Group takes the time to understand these priorities first and then conducts a custom analysis to generate valuable and highly personalized data.
We understand the many details and the big picture. We walk you through the numerous decisions that must be made for each policy and then provide useful, timely policy updates throughout the year.
Policy Decisions
When setting up a PRF policy, you'll need to make several key decisions:
- Number and Types of Acres: You can insure up to every pasture acre you own or lease.
- Coverage Level: You can insure 70–90% of historic average precipitation. Precipitation must fall below your coverage level for a grid/interval to trigger indemnity.
- Productivity Factor: Value your acres at 60–120% of the value the Risk Management Agency assigns per grid. The premium and indemnity are based on the productivity factor you select.
- Intervals: You choose which two-month periods to insure during the year. Choose as few as 2 and as many as 6 of the 11 possible intervals in each grid.
Each interval is independent, meaning precipitation starts at zero for each interval (for example, rainfall in May has no effect on Jun–Jul).
Hawaii Rainfall Index Grid System
Grids in Hawaii are 5km x 5km, much smaller than grids on the mainland, in order to capture the microclimates of the region.
Grids are not available where there is no grazing history (based on FSA data), where national parks are located, in areas covered by large lava flows, or in a location UH Extension excluded.
PRF Timeline
- September 1–December 1: Sign up for 2025
- January 1–December 31: PRF crop year
- September 30: Premium due. Any indemnity received prior automatically goes towards the premium
This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell insurance. No coverage, policy change, addition, or deletion is effective unless confirmed by a licensed insurance agent. Proposals are based on the values and risks you disclose and are subject to the final policy’s terms, conditions, and exclusions. Federal crop insurance is reinsured by the FCIC and governed by USDA RMA rules. Final eligibility, coverage, and indemnity depend on accurate reporting and program compliance. Coverage varies by election and may not be available in all states. If viewed in a state where EastCo Group, LLC is not licensed, the content is for informational purposes only. Clients should consult a licensed agent for guidance. While efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of this material, EastCo Group, LLC makes no express or implied warranties and expressly disclaims all liability for any errors, omissions, or reliance on this information. EastCo Group, LLC is not responsible for any direct, indirect, or consequential damages resulting from its use.