Important Updates for Crop Insurance Spring Sales Closing

The spring sales closing date is one of the most important deadlines for crop insurance customers. It marks the final opportunity to purchase or adjust your coverage before the planting season begins. This date ensures that your risk management plan is locked in and ready to protect your operation throughout the growing season. Missing this deadline means waiting until the next crop year to make changes, so timely action is essential. Here’s what you need to know as the spring sales closing date approaches.

Coverage Updates

Crop insurance continues to evolve, offering growers more ways to manage risk. Due to the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) being implemented in the middle of 2025, there were many changes to the coverage options for the 2026 crop season. This includes expanded coverage for Expanded Coverage Option (ECO) and Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) policies.

Expanded Coverage Levels
- SCO continues to cover up to 86% of expected county-level revenue or yield. Looking ahead, SCO will increase to 90% in 2027, further closing the gap.
- ECO offers coverage up to 95%, giving you additional protection beyond your base policy.
- Expanded Beginning Farmer/Rancher (BFR) and Veteran Farmer/Rancher (VFR) benefits from 5 years to 10 years.
Increased Premium Subsidies
- Starting with the 2026 crop year, the premium subsidy for SCO and ECO has increased from 65% to 80%. This means lower out-of-pocket costs for higher levels of coverage.
- Enhanced premium subsidies on Basic and Optional (OU) unit structures.
Combine SCO and ECO for Maximum Protection
- You can elect both SCO and ECO on the same acres. SCO remains tied to your underlying policy (Yield or Revenue Protection), while ECO is independent of farm program elections like Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC).
Prevent Plant
- Removal of the 1 in 4 eligibility rules where in 1 of the last 4 years the land needed to be planted, harvested and insured.
- Removal of the PF+5% option, meaning 55% total liability payment on corn and 60% total liability payment on soybeans for 2026 prevent plant acres.

Claims

Can open a claim for replant during planting season. Prevent Plant claim can be opened after the final plant date up until 25 days after the final plant date.
There is NO premium increase for opening a claim, meaning that if there is ANY doubt, OPEN a claim with your Crop Growers Agent.

Key Dates

Timely action is essential to secure crop insurance. Mark these critical dates on your calendar:

Sales Closing Date: 03/15/2026 – All applications and policy changes must be submitted by this date to receive coverage.
Production Reporting Date: 04/29/2026 – Report your prior year’s actual yields to ensure accurate coverage.
Prevent Plant Deadline: 25 days after final planting date.
Acreage Reporting Date: 07/15/2026 – Provide details on your planted acreage to finalize your policy.

What does this mean for you as the Producer?

Higher coverage levels could trigger indemnities quicker
Increase in subsidy dollars could mean lower premium costs on your policy
ABILITY TO COVER YOURSELF TO STAY MORE WHOLE IN DISASTER

Next Steps

Your Crop Growers agent is your best resource for understanding how these changes apply to your operation. They can walk you through coverage options, explain cost impacts, and ensure your policy is tailored to your risk management needs. Contact your agent early to review your policy and make any necessary changes before the deadline.

Contact Crop Growers