The Crop Insurance Podcast

In this special edition of The Crop Insurance Podcast, we break down the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Board’s decision to fast-track major provisions from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into the 2026 crop year. For wheat producers and other fall crops, this means big changes: higher premium subsidies, expanded Beginning Farmer and Rancher benefits, a boost in Whole Farm Revenue Protection coverage levels, and a game-changing ...

Think you know Whole Farm Revenue Protection? Think again. In this episode, Mike sits down with Tyson Baker of Marsh McLennan Agency for a candid conversation between two WFRP pros. They bust the biggest myths, call out the common pitfalls, and break down how the program really works—without the jargon overload. Whether you’re a diversified grower curious about WFRP, or you’ve been insured for years but aren’t sure you’re using it ...

In this special video episode of The Crop Insurance Podcast, we’re popping the champagne (metaphorically) to celebrate the launch of our brand-new website — packed with articles, tools, and some sweet merch!

But that’s not all...

Mike dives into real-world “aha” moments from the field — the stuff you thought you knew until it came back to bite (or save) you. From winter wheat reporting slip-ups to the sneaky power of the word “or” in...

The county yields are out—and that means it’s time to do the math. In this special edition of The Crop Insurance Podcast, host Mike Rydell walks you through how to determine if Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) and Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) will trigger a payment for your 2024 crop year. Using Cascade County, Montana as a real-world example, Mike explains the yield and price math in plain terms, so you can know today if a che...

In this special episode of The Crop Insurance Podcast, Mike breaks down the USDA’s brand-new Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP)—a game-changing payment program for wheat, barley, and other commodity producers. Learn how much you could get paid per acre, who qualifies, what forms you need, and how to apply before the August 15, 2025 deadline. Whether you’ve already filed your acreage report or need to reach out to your FS...

In this episode of The Crop Insurance Podcast, we continue our deep dive into Margin Protection, focusing on the Harvest Price Option (HPO) and how it affects payouts. We break down real-world examples to show how HPO adjusts coverage when prices rise, how trigger margins and actual margins determine payouts, and what happens when you have an underlying Federal Crop Insurance policy.

If you’ve ever wondered how payouts are calculate...

In this first episode of our two-part deep dive into Margin Protection, we break down this powerful risk management tool in a way that’s easy to understand. We walk you through the fundamentals, including how Margin Protection works, key policy terms like Expected Revenue and Expected Costs, and how coverage levels and protection factors shape your payout. If you’ve ever been confused about Margin Protection or wondered if it’s rig...

Did you know that your crop rotation choices could impact your federal crop insurance eligibility? In this episode of The Crop Insurance Podcast, we break down the concept of rotational requirements for crop insurance eligibility. Learn how these rules help manage disease pressure, maintain soil health, and ensure long-term sustainability. Plus, we’ll share expert tips on how to stay compliant and protect your farm. Tune in for ess...

Ever wondered how the Risk Management Agency (RMA) determines Projected and Harvest Prices for dry peas—chickpeas, lentils, green and yellow peas? 🌱 In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on the pricing process, explaining how contract data is used to establish guarantees, and what happens when RMA can’t determine a price.

Join us as we break down:

✅ How Projected & Harvest Prices are set

✅ What happens when there’s no...

In this episode, we’re diving deep into Fire Insurance Protection - Smoke Index (FIP-SI), the latest crop insurance endorsement designed to protect California grape growers from wildfire smoke damage. 🌫️🍷

We’ll break down:

✅ How FIP-SI works and why it’s different from other endorsements

✅ What triggers a payout and how smoke events are measured

✅ The key calculations behind coverage and indemnity payments

Join us as we wrap up ou...

California’s wine country isn’t just known for great wine—it’s also a high-risk region for wildfires, droughts, and smoke damage. In this first episode of our mini-series, we introduce a fictitious Napa Valley vineyard owner, played by our Crop Insurance Podcast AI. Through their story, we’ll explore the challenges vineyard owners face and set the stage for possible risk management solutions. What strategies would you recommend? Th...

In this episode of The Crop Insurance Podcast, we’re joined by a precision agriculture expert from RCIS to explore how cutting-edge tech is reshaping crop insurance. Learn how tools like yield monitors and GPS mapping are improving accuracy, streamlining reporting, and simplifying claims. We also discuss key rules and best practices farmers need to follow to make the most of their precision ag data. Whether you’re a seasoned farmer...

🎄 Get ready for a festive and educational twist on a holiday classic! In this episode of The Crop Insurance Podcast, we present two fun, rhyming tales about timely acreage reporting—one from the farmer’s perspective and one from the agent’s.

Follow along as we explore two contrasting paths: a farmer who waits too long to report, leading to last-minute chaos and missed details, and an agent who drops the ball, creating frustration a...

In this episode of The Crop Insurance Podcast, we’re diving into the exciting world of precision agriculture and how it’s transforming crop insurance. From streamlining reporting to improving APH accuracy and simplifying claims, we explore how tools like yield monitors and GPS mapping are reshaping the game. Plus, learn why understanding the rules behind precision ag is just as important as the tech itself—and how your crop insuran...