Sign-up deadline approaches to insure diverse crops

ANNA JOHNSON

Policy Manager

Center for Rural Affairs

Farmers face risk from a variety of sources—weather, disease, markets, financial systems.

While crop insurance offers a valuable option for many farmers to manage some of that risk, some crops, such as many organic, small grain, fruit and vegetable crops, as well as livestock, can’t be covered by traditional crop insurance in most Midwest counties.

For farmers seeking to diversify their incomes, trying to incorporate these crops into their rotations and operations might seem appealing. But, without clear crop insurance options, many farmers...