Only Expenses Grow During a Drought
 
Vortex Drought Shield^SM, Insurance for Hay Production
 
Significant drought occurs somewhere every year.
 
Costs associated with drought can be significant. Grasslands and hayfields become withered, forcing those that rely on hay to seek alternatives. Users of hay may find the need to seek alternatives, the cost of which may be significantly higher than the budget allows. Alternatively, the reduced revenue caused by the loss of one or more productive hay crops during the year may also be devastating to the grower.

The Vortex Drought Shield helps protect against expense or lost revenue associated with a reduction in natural rainfall. Drought Shield provides those that rely on hay production with the ability to purchase insurance coverage for a lack of rainfall associated with losses of the hay crop. Not just for growers, any business entity impacted by drought can utilize this product.

Innovative Technology
 
The Vortex Drought Shield uses a Rainfall Index data similar to the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage program. The Rainfall Index is designed to provide rainfall estimates for a location using National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Center (NOAA CPC) data to create a grid (.25 X .25 degree) of rainfall estimates for areas that do not have a weather observation station in place. (If preferred, Vortex Drought Shield insurance can utilize a local weather station.)

The ratio of the sum of the NOAA CPC rainfall (for example 6.00 inches) over the coverage period to the long-term average (for example 10.00 inches) creates the Rainfall Index (.60 based on the example information). Any Drought Shield claim payments are calculated using NOAA CPC Rainfall Index data for the selected grid (or applicable local weather station). In the event rainfall levels fall below your chosen insurance level, you may receive a loss payment.

Unlike the RMA’s Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage program, the Vortex Drought Shield insurance program is available to growers and non-growers alike. Drought Shield insurance policies are offered anywhere in the U. S. and can be purchased anytime throughout the year, provided insurance is purchased at least 15 days prior to the beginning of the coverage period. Coverage periods are not confined to predetermined lengths or whole-month periods– you choose the period of coverage you need.