Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture 2026 Winter Policy Conference, NASDA members amended the organization's policy to expound on the type and availability of crop insurance NASDA will advocate for, particularly in regard to specialty crop growers.

Going beyond supplying additional resources, NASDA's policy now emphasizes the need for "federal risk management programs to provide crop insurance products that meet the needs of specialty crop growers." The policy also states that "Priority should be given to affordable products that offer a payout rate that is advantageous enough to attract participation from small, diversified farms, and a process that is not overly burdensome for those producers."

NASDA President, Commissioner Amanda Beal remarked on feedback NASDA members have heard from growers across the nation.

"Growers have shared with state agencies that the complexity of current crop insurance programs excludes or dissuades specialty crop growers from applying for insurance," Beal said. "At a time when farmers are facing a tough and unpredictable economy, additional certainty for farm operations provided by insurance would offer significant help. NASDA supports federal crop insurance changes that would address not only the resources of insurance products, but also the ease of access and implementation."

NASDA members from Connecticut, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania led the introduction of this policy amendment and shared how the policy would impact farmers in their states.

In Connecticut, small, diversified farms need crop insurance programs that work for them. Farmers are facing growing challenges as extreme weather events become more frequent. Crop insurance isn't just a backup plan. It's what allows farmers to recover from a difficult season, manage debt, and prepare for the next plant cycle. For new and beginning farmers this support is even more critical. Without significant cash reserves a single bad year can threaten their entire livelihood. Making crop insurance affordable and accessible isn't just good policy. It is essential to keeping family farms viable and giving them a fair chance to succeed.

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources reports that Massachusetts crops are more vulnerable than ever to a changing climate. Bearing the burden of that risk can be too high of a cost for some Massachusetts growers, for whom a single poor season can threaten their livelihood and viability. A crop insurance system that meets the needs of small, diversified farms would help many of them remain in business by providing a reliable, affordable safety net.

In Pennsylvania, specialty crop growers produce everything from fruits and vegetables to nursery crops and mushrooms, often across diversified operations that don't fit neatly into traditional crop insurance models. Many of these farmers face significant barriers when navigating existing insurance options, including complex paperwork, limited agent availability, and products that don't reflect how their farms actually operate. Improving access to affordable, practical crop insurance would give Pennsylvania specialty crop growers greater financial stability, help them manage risk from weather and market disruptions, and allow them to continue investing in their businesses and local economies.

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NASDA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association which represents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries and directors of the departments of agriculture in all fifty states and four U.S. territories. NASDA grows and enhances American food and agricultural communities through policy, partnerships and public engagement. To learn more about NASDA, please visit https://www.nasda.org.