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Advisor calls 2026 “a gift” for crop insurance

A crop insurance expert says many program changes coupled with busy USDA staff will lead to some risk management advantages for farmers this growing season.

Cole Patrick at Compeer tells Brownfield with Ag Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage, ARC and PLC, the increased reference prices will automatically bring benefits to farmers in 2026.  He says producers will also no longer have to choose between ARC and Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO). “Now that SCO and ARC don’t mirror each other because ARC coverage goes up to 90%, you don’t have to make that choice. You can take both if you want to, and that’s an added advantage.”

Patrick says he’s expecting much later deadlines, so farmers will likely have a yield prediction before signups end. “I think producers are going to get a gift this year because FSA has had so much thrown at them with all of these changes. That signup is going to be delayed while they handle SDRP Phase II, cleaning that up, and the farmer bridge payments.”

Patrick says crop insurance remains affordable, even as other costs grow. “The margins are getting squeezed but the good news is is that the cost to protect those margins is going down.”

Patrick talked to Brownfield during the Wisconsin Corn-Soy-Pork Expo in Wisconsin Dells January 29th.

AUDIO: Cole Patrick discusses 2026 crop insurance changes with Brownfield’s Larry Lee during Wisconsin’s Corn-Soy-Pork Expo