News
(Washington, D.C., July 8, 2026) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding coverage options to add revenue protection for forage producers in 12 states, part of the Department’s efforts to put Farmers First through improved crop insurance. Implemented by USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA), the new coverage options guard against both yield losses and decline in price due to market changes.
“We closely collaborated with forage producers and industry stakeholders to develop this expanded policy to provide these coverage options in the areas where it is needed the most,” said RMA Administrator Pat Swanson. “We are dedicated to delivering risk management tools that are responsive to the needs of American farmers and ranchers, and offering this enhanced product…
(Washington, D.C., July 6, 2026) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking action to provide additional emergency relief for apple growers in Maryland, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia recovering from a catastrophic late-April freeze. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) previously authorized emergency procedures to accelerate claims for producers who suffered losses and are insured under the Optional Coverage for Fresh Fruit Quality Adjustment. Today’s action expands that relief to help apple growers with partial losses, affirming the Department’s commitment to putting Farmers First.
“At USDA, we’re prioritizing American farmers to ensure they have the tools they need to be successful, strengthen farm…
Washington, D.C., June 17, 2026 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) mission area today announced organizational improvements across the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Risk Management Agency (RMA), and the FPAC Business Center (FBC) is designed to strengthen service delivery, improve operational efficiency, and better align resources with the needs of America’s farmers, ranchers, and producers.
FPAC agencies already operate primarily in the field, with the vast majority of employees serving producers outside USDA’s Washington, D.C., headquarters. The organizational improvements build upon that foundation by streamlining leadership structures, clarifying lines of authority, consolidating…
(Washington, D.C., May 18, 2026) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced a series of updates to improve insurance coverage through the Livestock Risk Protection (LRP), Livestock Gross Margin (LGM), and Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP) insurance programs beginning with the 2027 crop year. These updates were approved by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Board of Directors.
Uniform changes across LRP, LGM and DRP include:
Adding subsidy capture language to address off-exchange contracts.Updating the definition of beginning farmer or rancher and subsidy percentages to align with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Permitting concurrent coverage between similar livestock programs. Enabling…(Washington, D.C., April 30, 2026) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) is upgrading the source for rainfall data used in several Federal crop insurance programs, moving from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC) to the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). RMA will begin this transition with the Tropical Storm Option on the Hurricane Insurance Protection - Wind Index program on April 30, 2026.
This change will also affect Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF); Annual Forage (AF); Apiculture; and Shellfish insurance programs that use precipitation data to calculate coverage and indemnities. PRF,…
(April 30, 2026) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced a significant expansion of the Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index (HIP-WI) endorsement and the Tropical Storm Option (TS), making them available to producers whose crops are insured through the Written Agreement process. This change is effective for the 2027 and succeeding crop years.
Written Agreements are a critical tool that allow producers to obtain Federal crop insurance for crops or practices not yet covered in a given county. By enabling HIP-WI access on Written Agreement policies, RMA is ensuring that these producers, who often grow the nation’s most…
(April 2, 2026) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds agricultural producers that the final date to apply for or make changes to their existing crop insurance coverage is quickly approaching. Sales closing dates vary by crop and location, but the next major sales closing dates are May 1, May 15, July 15 and July 31.
Producers are encouraged to visit their crop insurance agent soon to learn specific details for the 2027 crop year. Crop insurance coverage decisions must be made on or before the applicable sales closing date.
The USDA’s Risk Management Agency lists sales closing dates in the Actuarial Information Browser, under the “Dates” tab.
Producers can also access the RMA Map Viewer tool to visualize the…
(Washington, D.C., February 12, 2026) – Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the appointment of three new members to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) Board of Directors, which oversees the Federal crop insurance program available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The FCIC Board of Directors provides guidance to USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) on the administration of the crop insurance program, ensuring that the program remains actuarially sound, fiscally responsible, and responsive to the evolving needs of America’s farmers and ranchers.
“Crop insurance is a partnership between farmers, private industry, and the federal government,” said RMA Administrator Pat Swanson, who manages the FCIC. “The board ensures that…
Crop Insurance Deadline Nears for Spring Planted Crops, Whole-Farm Revenue Protection and Micro Farm
Feb. 5, 2026 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds agricultural producers that the final date to apply for or make changes to their existing crop insurance coverage is quickly approaching for spring planted crops, Whole-Farm Revenue Protection, Micro Farm and some specialty crops. Sales closing dates vary by crop and location, but the next major sales closing dates are Feb. 28, March 15 and April 15.
Producers are encouraged to visit their crop insurance agent soon to learn specific details for the upcoming crop year. Crop insurance coverage decisions must be made on or before the…