USDA Extends Crop‑Insurance Premium Deadline and Launches Forage Revenue Protection Program

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced at Minnesota Farmfest that the USDA Risk Management Agency will allow producers an additional 60 days to pay crop‑insurance premiums, administrative fees and related amounts due between July 1 and September 30 2026. During this extension, interest charges will be waived and collection of unpaid premiums will be deferred starting with the August accounting cycle. The agency also reinstated the option for insured producers to purchase an extra 5 % prevented‑planting coverage for crops filed by August 31 2026 for the 2027 and later crop years.

Separately, the USDA introduced a new Forage Production Revenue Protection insurance program, which safeguards against both yield and price losses for forage crops. A free webinar on August 11 presented details on eligibility, coverage options, premium estimates and enrollment deadlines. The program is available in counties across 12 states, covering alfalfa and select other forage species, and leverages futures prices of corn, soybean meal and Class III milk for price‑risk protection.

Both initiatives aim to expand risk‑management tools for U.S. farmers and livestock producers.