Statement: OKFB applauds USDA enhancements to federal crop insurance programs

Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Stacy Simunek released the following statement after USDA's Dec. 5, 2025, announcement of changes and refinements to numerous federal crop insurance programs for the 2026 crop year with the Expanding Access to Risk Protection Final Rule.

"Oklahoma Farm Bureau members are tremendously appreciative of the Trump administration's streamlining of federal crop insurance programs to help our state's farmers and ranchers access, comply with and participate in federal crop insurance and risk management programs.

"Our state's agricultural producers have faced drought and disasters over the past several years that have decreased crop yields and negatively impacted farm income, which has highlighted the importance of agricultural safety nets including federal risk management programs. Sec. Rollins' work to reduce hurdles to and improve the quality of federal crop insurance programs comes at a critical time as farmers and ranchers experience surging input costs, suppressed crop prices and the ongoing rollercoaster ride in the cattle markets.

"We appreciate the 'farmers-first' approach the USDA is taking to ensure farmers and ranchers have the support they need to produce food, fiber and fuel for the American people, and we look forward to future efforts to support Oklahoma's agricultural producers in these challenging economic times."

About the EARP final rule from USDA:

The EARP Final Rule became effective Nov. 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. USDA will accept public comments until January 27, 2026.

Read USDA's full press release online

Changes in the EARP highlighted by USDA include:

Reducing Regulatory Burdens

Improving Land Access Through Prevented Planting Relief

• 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.

Streamlining Production Reporting

• Allows policyholders switching Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs) to submit production reports directly to their new provider, reducing confusion and paperwork.

Expanding Direct Marketing Options

• Allows 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.

Simplifying 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.

Deregulating Coverage Dates

• Removes termination, cancellation, and end-of-insurance dates from federal regulations and places them in policy provisions, enabling more flexible, county-level updates.

Additional Policy Updates

One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) Implementation

• Incorporates provisions from Manager's Bulletin 25-006.
• Extends beginning farmer and rancher eligibility from 5 to 10 crop years.
• Updates additional premium subsidy rates: 15% (years 1-2), 13% (year 3), 11% (year 4), and 10% (years 5-10).

Revenue Protection Clarifications

• Establishes that harvest prices will equal projected prices when insufficient data prevents use of the approved methodology.
• Creates a reimbursement process for policyholders who paid additional revenue protection premiums in such cases.

Crop-Specific Improvements

• Fresh Market Tomatoes: Extends end of insurance period by one month in TN and SC to better cover late-season hurricanes (2027 crop year).
• Fresh Market Peppers: Adds insurance dates aligned with northern growing seasons to support Dollar Plan expansion into Northeastern states.
• Safflower: Moves the contract change date from December 31 to November 30, aligning with other spring crops and simplifying enrollment.