The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced two notable crop insurance changes on August 4 aimed at providing producers with additional payment flexibility and expanding prevented planting coverage options.

The changes were announced by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins during Minnesota Farmfest and will be administered through USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA).

Up to 60 Additional Days for Certain Crop Insurance Payments

RMA is authorizing Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs) to provide producers with up to 60 additional days to pay crop insurance premiums, administrative fees, and amounts due under Written Payment Agreements.

The flexibility applies to policies with scheduled premium billing dates between July 1 and September 30, 2026.

During the additional payment period, AIPs may waive interest charges. According to USDA, interest on unpaid premiums and administrative fees would begin after the 60-day extension ends or when the policy reaches its termination date, whichever occurs first.

RMA will also defer collection of unpaid producer premiums and administrative fees from AIPs and waive associated interest beginning with the August monthly accounting cycle.

AIPs are expected to notify affected policyholders regarding the relief measures.

Additional 5% Prevented Planting Coverage Returns

RMA is also reinstating the option for insured producers to purchase an additional 5% of prevented planting coverage.

The option will become available beginning with crops associated with the August 31, 2026 filing date for the 2027 crop year and will continue for succeeding crop years.

Prevented planting coverage can apply when an insured cause of loss prevents a producer from planting an insured crop by the applicable final planting date or within the late planting period, subject to the terms and requirements of the policy.

The additional coverage option gives eligible producers another consideration when reviewing how much protection they want in place before the next production season.

What Agricultural Insurance Professionals Should Know

For agents, AIPs, adjusters, and other agricultural insurance professionals, the announcement creates two different conversations to be aware of.

The payment flexibility may affect when certain premiums and fees are due and when interest begins to accrue. Meanwhile, the return of the additional prevented planting option gives producers another coverage decision to consider as policies are reviewed for the 2027 crop year.

Clear communication will be important. Individual policy circumstances, applicable dates, eligibility, and coverage elections can vary, so producers should work directly with their crop insurance agent or Approved Insurance Provider to understand how the changes apply to their operation.

ACA will continue following crop insurance and agricultural risk-management developments that may affect the professionals serving the industry.

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture — Secretary Rollins Announces New Steps to Put Farmers First While at Minnesota Farmfest