Crop insurance is working as it was designed, insurers say

Planting season is near, and important crop insurance deadlines are closing in.

One major group says the scale of today’s programs highlights the need for reliable insurance options.

“Since 2019, crop insurers have made lost payments of more than 65 billion to help farmers recover from disasters. Most recently, crop insurance payments were among the first meaningful aid arriving to the areas along the east coast that were devastated by hurricanes in 2024, approximately $800 million of hurricane insurance protection and wind index endorsement payments were sent out quickly and far exceeded what policyholders paid for the coverage,” said Scott Arnold.

A couple of big crop insurance deadlines are coming up. The next major sales closing date for crop insurance is March 15th, and deadlines to apply for ARC and PLC both have been extended to April 15th.

Related Stories
The USDA’s August Cold Storage report shows shifting stock levels across major dairy, meat, and poultry products.
The total value of the U.S. potato crop was $4.60 billion in 2024, representing an 8% decrease from the previous year.
Crop-specific shifts and strong prices highlight the variability of this year’s fruit and tree nut harvest, according to USDA data.
The decline in production marks the second consecutive year of contraction in the U.S. turkey industry.
We caught up with Karen Braun, Chief Market Analyst at Zaner Ag Hedge, at the Women in Agribusiness to discuss the data behind commodity trading.
Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn joined us Monday to share highlights from Secretary Brooke Rollins’ visit and her perspective on USDA’s new initiatives.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

API said it stands ready to work with Congress to develop a balanced approach to E15 legislation that promotes fuel choice, supports investment certainty, and contributes to a stable and fair marketplace for American consumers.
Lawmakers are pressing for answers on how Washington’s “managed trade” approach — keeping leverage through long-term tariffs — will affect farmers, global markets, and future export opportunities.
In the meantime, Senate Majority Leader John Thune is asking that farmers be allowed to use marketing assistance loans to help stay afloat.
Beef industry groups seem to agree — market-based pricing, not federal intervention, best supports rancher livelihoods and long-term beef supply stability.
Cattle groups say additional imports would offer little relief for consumers but could erode rancher confidence as the industry begins to rebuild herds.