As Wisconsin farmers transition from the 2025 harvest to 2026 planning, the crop insurance landscape is shifting. Despite a year marked by federal government shutdowns and volatile weather, industry experts report that the farm safety net remains robust.
Stefanie Wolfe, regional sales manager for Rural Community Insurance Services, notes that her organization’s private structure allowed it to bypass the delays federal agencies experienced this fall.
“RCIS was lucky enough our parent company did not experience any delays,” Wolfe tells Mid-West Farm Report. “So we were able to continue to send our adjusters out to work losses to be there for producers and get those checks out in the mail or into direct deposit right away.”
Looking ahead to 2026, the primary focus for many producers is the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a reconciliation bill passed this summer that introduced premium discounts. The most significant change impacts area-based endorsements like the Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) and Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO), which now feature an 80 percent premium support level. This change makes it more affordable for farmers to cover the deductibles left behind by their individual policies, Wolfe explains.
Wolfe emphasizes that while over 90 percent of producers utilize crop insurance, the new incentives make a pre-planting consultation critical.
“Your agent is your best resource to learn about any changes,” she explains. “It’s also a great time for our farmers to tell the agent what’s changing about their operation. Are they picking up some new ground? Maybe they’re looking at a new crop.”
With the March 15 sales closing deadline approaching, experts urge farmers to review these updated plans now to ensure their operations are fully protected for the upcoming growing season.
