USDA expands access and simplifies coverage with new crop insurance final rule
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) introduced updates to federal crop insurance, in what the agency called an effort that will result in "reducing red tape for farmers, modernizing long-standing policies, and expanding access to critical risk protection."
USDA Secretary Brooke L. Rollins explained that the Expanding Access to Risk Protection (EARP) Final Rule streamlines requirements across multiple crops and responds to producer feedback.
“Across the Trump Administration, we are removing burdensome regulations that were strangling small businesses,” Rollins said. “With this new rule, we are delivering real, meaningful relief by modernizing the system, expanding access to crop insurance, and making it easier, not harder, for farmers and ranchers to protect their operations.”
USDA is reducing regulatory burden on crop insurance
Among the changes, the USDA highlighted improvements in land access through the prevented planting relief. The agency explains this provision removes the “insured” requirement from the “1 in 4” rule for prevented planting payments. Producers must still show the land was planted and harvested (or adjusted for an insurable cause of loss) in one of the previous four years.
EARP now also includes efforts to streamline production reporting, which allows policyholders switching Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs) to submit production reports directly to their new provider, reducing paperwork.
Additionally, the ruling aims to expand direct marketing options, allowing insurance under the Dollar Plan for direct-marketed fresh market tomatoes and peppers beginning with the 2027 crop year, reflecting specialty crop business practices in Northeastern states.
The policy update also seeks to simplify dispute resolution. In accordance with Executive Order 14192, Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation, removes the “automatic nullification” rule and shifts fact-finding authority to the courts, reducing administrative burdens on policyholders and AIPs.
Finally, the updated EARP will also remove termination, cancellation, and end-of-insurance dates from federal regulations, placing them in policy provisions, enabling more flexible, county-level updates.
The EARP Final Rule became effective on November 30, 2025, for crops with a contract change date on or after that date (2026 crop year) and for the 2027 crop year as specified.
The USDA will accept public comments until January 27, 2026.
Producers should contact their local crop insurance agent or visit the Risk Management Association website for guidance on how these updates may affect coverage options.
*All images courtesy of the USDA
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