By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced changes that would give farmers additional flexibility to pay crop insurance premiums this year and the option to purchase additional prevented planting coverage.

Crop insurance flexibility
Farmers will have an additional 60 days to pay crop insurance premiums, administrative fees and amounts due under Written Payment Agreements with scheduled premium billing dates between July 1 and Sept. 30, 2026.

“For some of you, that may not be a big deal, but I know for others of you, that’s a really, really, really big deal,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said during a visit to Farmfest in Minnesota. “We’re watching and listening.”

During the additional 60-day period, Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs) may waive interest charges. Interest on unpaid premiums and administrative fees will not begin accruing until after the extended payment period ends or upon reaching the policy’s termination date, whichever occurs first.

“We’re not only extending but also making sure that you have the opportunity to waive those interest charges. Interest will begin accruing for unpaid premium and administrative fees only after the end of the additional 60-day period,” she said.

Payment flexibility is intended to help ease financial pressures facing farmers while maintaining access to federal crop insurance coverage.

Prevented planting coverage
USDA also announced the reinstatement of the option for insured producers to purchase an additional 5% of prevented planting coverage.

The buy-up option will be available beginning with crops associated with the Aug. 31, 2026 filing date for the 2027 and succeeding crop years.

“That option was taken away about a year-and-a-half ago. We are putting that back in,” Rollins said. “Hopefully, this added coverage allows our producers, all of you, a bigger and better opportunity to manage risk in situations where extreme weather or other conditions prevent normal planting.”

The additional coverage option was eliminated for 2026 spring crops.

AIPs will notify affected policyholders about the premium payment flexibility.

Farmers with questions about how the changes affect their policies should contact their local crop insurance agent.