USDA expands access to federal crop insurance and simplifies rules for farmers and ranchers

The US Department of Agriculture said it would expand access to federal crop insurance and reduce regulatory requirements for farmers and ranchers, unveiling a final rule that takes effect from the 2026 crop year. The Expanding Access to Risk Protection (EARP) rule streamlines reporting and eligibility requirements across multiple crops, shifts some administrative provisions out of federal regulation, and incorporates changes aimed at reflecting evolving production and marketing practices. The agency said the measures were designed to strengthen the farm safety net while responding to long-standing producer complaints about complexity and compliance costs.

Key changes include adjustments to prevented planting rules, allowing payments without the previous “insured” requirement as long as the land was planted or harvested in one of the past four years, and simplifying production reporting for growers who switch insurance providers. USDA also plans to broaden insurance options for direct-marketed fresh market tomatoes and peppers under the Dollar Plan from the 2027 crop year, alongside crop-specific updates affecting tomatoes, peppers and safflower. In addition, provisions from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act extend eligibility for beginning farmers and ranchers to 10 crop years and revise premium subsidy rates over that period.

The rule also alters dispute resolution by removing the automatic nullification of policies and shifting fact-finding authority to the courts, a move the department said would reduce administrative burdens. Termination and cancellation dates will be moved from federal regulations into policy provisions to allow more flexible, county-level updates. The EARP final rule took effect on November 30, 2025, for applicable crops, with USDA accepting public comments until January 27, 2026.