The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced major updates to federal crop insurance through the new Expanding Access to Risk Protection (EARP) Final Rule. These changes, effective starting with the 2026 crop year, are designed to reduce administrative burdens, expand eligibility, and ensure farmers and ranchers have better access to critical risk-management tools.

Key Improvements

Simplified Rules for Prevented Planting: The “1 in 4” planting requirement is updated to improve land access while keeping core safeguards in place.

Streamlined Reporting: Farmers switching insurance providers can now submit production reports directly, reducing paperwork and confusion.

Expanded Options for Direct-Marketed Crops: Fresh market tomatoes and peppers will have new insurance options that better reflect specialty crop practices.

Simplified Dispute Resolution: Updates aligned with federal deregulation efforts reduce administrative hurdles for producers.

More Flexible Insurance Dates: Key deadlines are now set at the policy level, allowing for more responsive, regional adjustments.

Beginning Farmer Support: Eligibility for beginning farmer and rancher benefits expands from 5 to 10 years with updated premium subsidy rates.

Crop-Specific Enhancements

Additional improvements for fresh market tomatoes, peppers, and safflower will better align coverage with regional production needs and seasonal risks.

Effective Dates & Comments

The rule took effect Nov. 30, 2025, with additional crop-specific changes applying to the 2027 crop year. USDA will accept public comments through January 27, 2026.

Learn more.