The Trump administration has unveiled changes to federal crop insurance aimed at easing regulatory burdens for farmers and expanding access to risk safeguards.

As part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, USDA on Friday published the Expanding Access to Risk Protection (EARP) final rule, and will accept public comment on it through Jan. 27.

Changes made by USDA’s Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) include clarifying harvest price methods, removing barriers to direct marketing and getting rid of buy-up coverage for prevented planting in the program. The amendments take effect in 2026 for crops with a contract change date on or after Nov. 30, 2025. For all other crops, changes to the policies are applicable for the 2027 and succeeding crop years.

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Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the move to modernize longtime policies responds to feedback from producers and underscores the administration’s pledge to prioritize the needs of American farmers.
 
“With this new rule, we are delivering real, meaningful relief by modernizing the system, expanding access to crop insurance, and making it easier, not harder, for farmers and ranchers to protect their operations and keep doing the work that keeps America fueled and fed,” Rollins said in a statement.

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