Crop Insurance Deadline Nears in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin for Fall Planted Crops

SAINT PAUL, Minn., Sept. 5, 2023 — USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin producers that the final date to apply for crop insurance for fall-planted crops, such as cultivated wild rice, forage production, grass seed, mint, rye, and wheat, is September 30 for the 2024 crop year. Current policyholders also have until the September 30 sales closing date to make changes to their existing coverage.

As a reminder, some options and endorsements, like Yield Exclusion, also have a September 30 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. Policyholders should consult with their crop insurance agent to make this election.

New changes for rye will be effective beginning in the 2024 crop year. Revenue Protection will now be available for all program counties in the St. Paul Region. Additionally, hybrid rye acreage planted to the approved high yielding varieties below may be insurable under the winter type or producers may request a higher yield by submitting a type/practice (TP) type written agreement under a new high yielding type. For the 2025 crop year moving forward, all approved high yielding varieties will transition to the high yielding type and be insurable only by written agreement. Written agreement requests must contain documentation of the high yielding variety(ies) the producer is planting such as seed purchase receipts. The approved high yielding winter varieties are: Bono, Serafino, Tayo, Receptor, and Brasetto.

Growers are encouraged to visit their crop insurance agent soon to learn specific details for the 2024 crop year.

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 plans of insurance. Additional information can be found on the Actuarial Information Browser page on the RMA website.

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.

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