Discover How Crop Insurance Works for Organic Producers
Discover How Crop Insurance Works for Organic Producers
For farmers transitioning to organic or already producing organic crops, crop insurance can be a business management tool to help protect against the risks posed by extreme weather events. However, organic producers have historically faced unique challenges when accessing and utilizing federal crop insurance, as it was originally designed to meet the needs of conventional farming operations. These challenges include underinsured values for organic crops, lack of production history requirements for transitioning or new organic farmers, or difficulties in assessing organic farming practices by loss adjusters.
The USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) is the federal agency that oversees the federal crop insurance program. They provide resources to help farmers understand and access coverage and administer federal subsidies that cover part of the insurance premium.
RMA is working with organic stakeholders, including farmers, to address these challenges and improve crop insurance options to meet the needs of organic and specialty crop producers. Changes and improvements taking effect for the 2025 crop year include allowing enterprise units by organic farming practice, new enterprise unit eligibility for several crops, crop-specific policy updates, and new Organic Practice Guidelines to help producers report planted or perennial acreage insured under a certified organic or transitional practice. These changes are part of a deliberate broader effort to support organic and transitioning producers and improve access to crop insurance.
What policy is best for my farm?
Different crop insurance options exist for different types of producers. For example:
Multi-peril, or “traditional” crop insurance might work well for some of the crops grown by row crop farmers;
Specialty crop insurance might work better for a vegetable grower that specializes in a larger volume of a few main crops;
Whole Farm Revenue Protection program might better serve highly diversified producers;
Pasture, Rangeland, Forage insurance policies are ideal for forage producers;
Or, if an organic price election isn't established by RMA, producers can use a written agreement with a buyer to insure the crop at a specific price.
View various policies applicable to organic producers, HERE.
New Producer Training Videos
MOSA Certified Organic is working with Oregon Tilth Certified Organic, Pennsylvania Certified Organic, and the Organic Farmers Association, in partnership with USDA’s Risk Management Agency, to deliver a robust training and outreach campaign for producers and agricultural professionals across the Northwest, Midwest, and Northeast to increase awareness, understanding, and use of crop insurance as a risk management strategy to safeguard the farm business.
These videos were recently developed to help organic and transitioning to organic producers understand the range of crop insurance options available for their operation.
Specialty Crop: https://youtu.be/0LoLYE9E6A8?si=zQkCTnWZ-yQW7QvP
Livestock: https://youtu.be/G_6BwTQrM0Q?si=XohMoRfO0IPmlFGu
Row Crop: https://youtu.be/JncuRd-VQYw?si=cNC42tLiL2tCz4ZL
Find an insurance agent
Farmers can purchase insurance policies at a subsidized rate under the Federal Crop Insurance Program. In the event of below-average yields or revenue, depending on the policy purchased, the policy makes indemnity payments to farmers. Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator or by contacting their RMA Regional Office.
Additional Resources
Link to the MOSA crop insurance page?-it is the last bullet of What policy is best for my farm?: https://mosaorganic.org/education-resources/crop-insurance
USDA Risk Management Association – Organic webpage: https://www.rma.usda.gov/about-crop-insurance/highlighted-initiatives-plans/organic-crops
MOSA RMA Crop Insurance Brochure:
MOSA RMA Crop Insurance Flyer: