2025 Grape Harvest Update: Appraisals, SDRP & New Insurance Opportunities

As we embark on the 2025 grape harvest, those who insure their crop must be proactive in ensuring accurate production records and timely completion of appraisals. This year also brings some changes to crop insurance options, so it’s critical producers stay informed. This article provides tips and reminders on these important topics.

Production Records

As we move through harvest, it’s essential to ensure production records are accurately tracked. One key detail to remember: keep all records separated by unit. This helps maintain clarity and compliance when reporting yields.

Uninsurable Acreage

To qualify for insurance, acreage must be in its 4th leaf year and produce at least 2 tons per acre. For this crop year, any acreage planted before July 1, 2023, will meet the age requirement.

Producers should keep records for uninsurable acreage separate from insurable acreage. This allows us to work toward getting those blocks insured as soon as they become eligible.

Preharvest & Unharvested Appraisals

This season has brought some unique challenges and opportunities to the grape industry. In the Lake Erie region, we’ve seen a large crop following last year’s frost, with vines benefiting from a period of rest. At the same time, many cooperatives have implemented allocations, affecting harvest decisions.

If you anticipate not harvesting your entire crop, it’s important to request an appraisal. These appraisals are not only used for crop insurance purposes but may also be accepted by some co-ops for their own production history records.

When Will Appraisals Be Done?

Appraisal timing depends on your Approved Insurance Provider (AIP):

Rain & Hail: Plans to conduct pre-harvest appraisals. If you’ve requested one and it hasn’t been completed yet, please contact your insurance agent immediately.

RCIS: Will perform unharvested appraisals after harvest, assessing what remains on the vines. Then for production history, combine that with your harvested production.

Alternative Recordkeeping Option: Yield Monitors

If you don’t have a market for your entire crop, you can use newer technology like a yield monitor to document production. Even if grapes are being dumped, you can still track production. Be sure to contact your insurance agent for calibration paperwork to ensure the data is accepted.

Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP)

If you received indemnities in 2023 or 2024, you should have received a letter from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) this summer regarding the SDRP Stage 1 application.

Producers without crop insurance or those who did not receive an indemnity began receiving Stage 2 letters after September 15.

If you enrolled in SDRP, please note, you are required to carry crop insurance at a minimum 60% coverage level for the 2026 and 2027 crop years. The Sales Closing Date for 2026 is November 20, 2025.

The “One Big Beautiful Bill” Crop Insurance Changes

The One Big Beautiful Bill, signed into law on July 4, extended and amplified the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act for farmers and made significant changes to agricultural safety net programs, including crop insurance.

Specifically, perennial crop insurance used by grape producers had the following subsidy increases, which will help lower premiums for the 2026 crop year:

Coverage levels 55% through 75% now receive a 5% higher subsidy.

Coverage levels 80% and 85% receive a 3% increase.

Additionally, the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) and Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) have both seen a subsidy increase from 65% to 80%. While these area-based plans are still relatively new and may be unfamiliar to some, we’ve seen great success with these options, especially for grapes. They offer a separate band of coverage that provides high protection at a relatively low premium. Be sure to discuss these beneficial options with your crop insurance agent this Sales Closing season.

Wishing you a safe and successful harvest season!

To learn more about crop insurance coverage for grapes and risk management solutions tailored for your farm, connect with a Crop Growers agent today!

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