USDA Expands Crop Insurance Options for Specialty Crop Growers

Organic cranberry and stone fruit growers will gain more flexibility beginning with the 2027 crop year.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD News) — USDA is expanding crop insurance options for specialty crop growers, giving organic cranberry and stone fruit producers more flexibility beginning with the 2027 crop year.

USDA Under Secretary Richard Fordyce said the changes may apply to a relatively small number of acres but are part of a broader effort to offer more risk management options.

“The number of acres that this covers is probably not super large, but this is an example of the Risk Management Agency looking for options and looking for ways to better support farmers across all kinds of production systems.”

Fordyce said USDA is also looking to expand existing crop insurance programs into new areas as specialty crop production spreads across the country.

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Knoxville native Neal Burnette-Irwin is a graduate from MTSU where he majored in Journalism and Entertainment Studies. He works as a digital content producer with RFD News and is represented by multiple talent agencies in Nashville and Chicago.


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