Crop Insurance Deadline Nears in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin for Spring Planted Crops, Whole-Farm Revenue Protection, and Micro Farm Program

SAINT PAUL, Minn., Feb. 16, 2022 — USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin producers that the final date to apply for crop insurance for spring planted crops such as barley, buckwheat, cabbage, canola, cigar binder tobacco, corn, cucumbers, dry beans, dry peas, flax, forage seeding, grain sorghum, green peas, hemp, hybrid seed corn, oats, onions, popcorn, potatoes, processing beans, soybeans, sugar beets, sunflowers, sweet corn, triticale, and wheat is March 15 for the 2022 crop year. Growers also have until March 15 to apply for coverage under the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection policy and the new Micro Farm Program. Current policyholders who wish to make changes to their existing coverage also have until the March 15 sales closing date.

As a reminder, some options and endorsements, like Yield Exclusion, also have a March 15 sales closing date. The Yield Exclusion option allows producers to exclude yields of eligible crop years when RMA determines the county per planted acre yield was at least 50 percent below the simple average of the per planted acre yield for the crop in the county for the previous 10 consecutive crop years. The amount of insurance available to a producer is based on the producer's average historical yields. If policyholders have experienced reduced yields on their operation in past years that were also experienced county wide, such as the 2020 derecho in Iowa, they may want to consider discussing the Yield Exclusion option with their crop insurance agent, who can tell them if Yield Exclusion is available for the crop in the county. The Yield Exclusion option now includes crop year 2020. To get this benefit, policyholders must elect the Yield Exclusion option on a crop insurance application or policy change form by March 15. Policyholders should consult with their crop insurance agent to make this election.

Federal crop insurance is critical to the farm safety net. It helps producers and owners manage revenue risks and strengthens the rural economy. Growers may select from several coverage options, including yield coverage, revenue protection, and area risk policies. Additional information can be found on the Actuarial Information Browser page on the RMA website.

Growers are encouraged to visit their crop insurance agent soon to learn specific details for the 2022 crop year.

RMA is authorizing additional flexibilities due to coronavirus while continuing to support producers, working through Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs) to deliver services, including processing policies, claims and agreements. RMA staff are working with AIPs and other customers by phone, mail and electronically to continue supporting crop insurance coverage for producers. On farmers.gov, you can find more information on USDA’s response and relief for producers and use other tools and resources.

Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at rma.usda.gov.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.