PM-26-006: Controlled Environment Pilot Crop Insurance Program and Nursery Value Select Pilot Crop Insurance Program Modifications for the 2027 and Succeeding Crop Years

BACKGROUND:

On August 15, 2025, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) Board of Directors approved modifications to the CE Pilot Crop Insurance Program and NVS Pilot Crop Insurance Program. Beginning with the 2027 crop year, the modifications include the following:

CE and NVS

• Allowed coverage to attach for a transferee on the start date of the crop year when a transfer of coverage and right to indemnity are submitted by a transferor at the end of the previous crop year, during the 30-day waiting period for the applicable crop year.

CE Only

• Removed the term "regulated" from plant disease requirements, broadening coverage to include both regulated diseases and those monitored by USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) or State governments. This change ensures producers have protection against a wider range of plant disease threats;
• Clarified that plants in buffer zones may be eligible for indemnity when they must be destroyed as part of a destruction order or alternate quarantine release strategy, even if the plants themselves show no damage from disease or contamination; and
• Clarified the definition of "contamination" to include the presence of, detection of, or exposure to contaminants, providing clearer guidance for producers on coverage eligibility.

ACTION:

The following materials will be available by close of business January 30, 2026, on the Risk Management Agency (RMA) website at https://www.rma.usda.gov:

• CE Pilot Crop Provisions (27-1020)
• CE Insurance Standards Handbook (FCIC-24220)
• NVS Pilot Crop Provisions (27-1010)
• NVS Insurance Standards Handbook (FCIC-24070)

The following materials will be available on the RMA website at a later date:

• CE Loss Adjustment Standards Handbook (FCIC-25970)
• CE Fact Sheet
• CE Frequently Asked Questions
• NVS Loss Adjustment Standards Handbook (FCIC-25760)
• NVS Fact Sheet

Approved insurance providers must notify policyholders of these changes at least 30 days prior to the cancellation date, as required by the policy.

Interested producers should contact a crop insurance agent for further information. A list of agents can be found on the RMA website at https://www.rma.usda.gov/tools-reports/agent-locator.

DISPOSAL DATE:
December 31, 2026