USDA Reinstates Prevented Planting Buy-Up Option for Crop Insurance
The USDA has announced it will restore the prevented planting buy-up option for crop insurance, which will benefit farmers in North and South Dakota particularly. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated that the agency is '100% supportive' of bringing back this option to crop insurance.
The buy-up option increases prevented planting coverage by 5 percentage points, leading to significantly higher payouts when weather prevents crops from being planted. A corn producer with a $700 per acre guarantee could see their prevented planting payment increase from $385 to $420 per acre with the buy-up option, a $35 difference that matters for producers.
The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation had eliminated this option in November, affecting the 2025 crop season for corn, soybeans, and other crops. Over 67 million acres nationwide utilized the buy-up option in 2025, with North and South Dakota leading in payouts. Farm groups argued that crop insurance and disaster programs are not interchangeable, as producers buy insurance before the season to cover financing purposes.