(NAFB) Farmers across the country are being reminded to finalize their crop insurance coverage for the 2026 crop year before the March 16 deadline for most spring-seeded crops. New data released by National Crop Insurance Services shows participation in the program continues to grow nationwide. Farmers purchased 2.54 million crop insurance policies in 2025, protecting a record 561 million acres of farmland across the United States.
NCIS President Tom Zacharias says those numbers highlight the importance of crop insurance during a time of economic pressure and weather uncertainty.
“Record participation in 2025 demonstrates the value that farmers and ranchers place on crop insurance. In a time of tight margins and increasing weather uncertainty, farmers are counting on the dependable public-private partnership that financially protects them when disaster strikes.”
The policies purchased last year provided more than $159 billion in liability protection for crops, while farmers invested over $6.25 billion of their own money to buy that coverage. Zacharias says that investment reflects farmers’ commitment to managing risk in an increasingly unpredictable environment.
“Crop insurance today protects the vast majority of eligible farmland in the United States. Crop insurance has become the cornerstone of modern farm policy because it provides farmers with reliable protection against both weather losses and market uncertainty.”
Participation is widespread. Crop insurance policies were sold in every state in America in 2025, reflecting the diverse risk-management needs of farmers and ranchers across the country. Zacharias says the program continues to evolve as new tools and options become available.
“Today’s crop insurance products are more flexible and better-tailored than ever before. Farmers can work with their agents to build a coverage that fits their specific operation, whether they’re managing weather risks, market volatility, or both.”
With the March 16 deadline approaching for many major crops, Zacharias says farmers should review their coverage now.
“Every farm operation is unique, and crop insurance works best when farmers take the time to evaluate their options. We encourage farmers to sit down with their crop insurance agent before the sales closing date deadline to make sure they have the right protection in place for the year ahead.”
To learn more about crop insurance and the companies offering multi-peril coverage across the country, visit CropInsuranceinAmerica.org.
