The USDA Risk Management Agency has announced updates to several livestock and dairy insurance programs beginning with the 2027 crop year.

The changes affect Livestock Risk Protection, Livestock Gross Margin, and Dairy Revenue Protection insurance programs. According to RMA, the updates are intended to improve consistency across livestock insurance programs while expanding options for producers managing price, margin, and revenue risk.

Some of the updates include revised beginning farmer and rancher definitions, updated subsidy percentages, expanded flexibility for concurrent coverage between similar livestock insurance programs, and program-specific changes for cattle and dairy coverage.

For agricultural insurance professionals, these updates are important to watch. Changes to livestock and dairy risk tools can shape producer questions, risk conversations, documentation needs, and how professionals prepare before the next crop year begins.

Livestock Risk Protection updates include more flexibility for forage disaster exemptions, extended cull cow coverage, and new unborn feeder cattle types. Livestock Gross Margin updates include higher insurable weight limits for cattle and revised feeder and live cattle weight rules. Dairy Revenue Protection will also see a change to its sales period end date to better align with other livestock insurance programs.

As livestock and dairy insurance tools continue to evolve, professionals serving the agricultural insurance industry need to understand what changed, who it affects, and how those updates may show up in real industry conversations.

This is where the Agricultural Claims Association’s mission continues to matter.

ACA supports agricultural claims professionals through education, resources, training, and industry connection built around the realities of agricultural risk and claims. Staying informed helps professionals better understand the issues producers are facing and the questions that may come up as program changes take effect.

The 2027 crop year may feel far away, but updates like these are worth following now. Early awareness helps agents, adjusters, carriers, and other agricultural insurance professionals prepare for stronger conversations and better support across the livestock and dairy sectors.

Questions about agricultural claims education, resources, or industry support? Contact ACA — we’re here to help connect our ag claims community with the right resources.