USDA Expands Crop Insurance Support for Beginning Farmers Through One Big Beautiful Bill
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The USDA has announced major changes to crop insurance programs for beginning farmers, made possible through the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill. These updates are designed to offer stronger financial support during the critical early years of farm operations.
USDA Risk Management Agency Administrator Pat Swanson detailed the updates, explaining how the new law enhances premium support for new producers.
“In the past, for beginning farmers and ranchers with crop insurance, they would be defined as the first five years of being a farmer. So their first five years of filing a Schedule F on and we would provide them 10% premium support for the first five years,” said Swanson. “And with the new One Big Beautiful Bill that was passed, we are now being able to extend those benefits for 10 years instead of five. And the first four years, we’re going to give them even a higher premium support.”
She went on to specify the new support structure:
- Years 1–2: 15% additional premium support
- Year 3: 13% premium support
- Year 4: 11% premium support
- Years 5–10: 10% premium support, consistent with the previous policy
Swanson emphasized the real-world impact these changes will have: “As you’re beginning farming, there’s just a lot of challenges financially to get started. And I think this additional five years will be well received by our farmers and a big benefit to them as well.”
This extension of premium support recognizes the unique financial hurdles faced by beginning farmers and ranchers. By providing more substantial assistance in the earliest years and lengthening the support period to 10 years, the USDA aims to ease entry into agriculture and promote long-term sustainability in the farming sector.
Farmers who qualify as beginning producers are encouraged to contact their local crop insurance agent to learn how these updates could apply to them in the upcoming insurance cycle.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.