This week, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the USDA would begin implementation of a new farm bill program to provide relief to farmers affected by severe weather.  The new program, the Actual Production History (APH) Yield Exclusion, will allow producers who have been impacted by severe weather to receive a higher approved yield on insurance policies through the federal crop insurance program.  Crops eligible in California for the APH Yield Exclusion are rice, corn, wheat, sorghum, and barley.  The new program will be available starting next spring.