Winter Storm 2026: Ag Impacts — Midwest

Brooks York with AgriSompo joined us with his outlook on crop insurance and risk management following the recent winter storm that tore through most of the United States, including the Midwest.

CARMI, ILLINOIS (RFD NEWS) — A powerful winter storm moved across farm country over the weekend, impacting a number of rural communities. As with any major weather event, the storm has prompted renewed questions around crop insurance and risk management heading into the next growing season.

Brooks York with AgriSompo joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report to discuss how farmers can use this time to think through risk management decisions for 2026.

In his interview with RFD NEWS, York shared what he is hearing from producers across the country and outlined new considerations farmers are weighing as they plan for the upcoming crop year. He also shared his best piece of advice for farmers as they evaluate crop insurance products and broader risk management strategies in the year ahead.

Related Stories
The fourth-generation owner of Georgia’s Arena Acres cultivated a love for floral arts in FFA on a family farm passed down through generations.
Jarrod Hardke with the University of Arkansas break down extreme drought conditions, shifting planting decisions, and the impact of rising input costs on Arkansas agriculture this season.
SAE programs help FFA students build skills beyond the classroom.
The Farm Monitor says Georgia farmers highlighted profitability and labor challenges during a Farm Bureau event with USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden.
Rising costs and tighter margins are shaping the 2026 outlook.
Oklahoma livestock economist Dr. Derrell Peel helps us break down the April Cattle-on-Feed report and what it signals for herd rebuilding, supplies and prices moving forward.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Pat Hord with the National Pork Producers Council joined us to recap producer meetings in Washington and discuss key policy priorities including Prop 12 and agricultural labor.
Cattle-on-Feed is down on the year in the USDA’s April report, with lower placements and marketings signaling tighter feedlot activity.
As data centers expand across Texas, experts and officials weigh economic benefits against concerns over farmland loss, water use, and impacts on agricultural land and rural communities.
Steven Snow with the U.S. Small Business Administration joined us to discuss tax relief for rural Americans and the long-term benefits of new provisions impacting farmers and small businesses.
As budget hearings continue on Capitol Hill, policymakers focus on long-term solutions to stabilize the fertilizer market to support U.S. farmers.