What does the Risk Management Agency do?
RMA administers the federal crop insurance program. Its pages explain that the program is a partnership: the government writes the rules, helps pay part of premiums and backs the system, while private approved insurance providers sell the policies and handle claims.
RMA does not sell you a policy and cannot tell you which one to buy. Your crop insurance agent can, within the rules, so choose an agent who explains options clearly.
Ask your agent to walk you through a sample claim for your own crop, including what happens at each step and the paperwork required. Hearing it before a loss is much easier than learning it during one.
What kinds of plans exist?
RMA's insurance plans page describes several types. Yield-based plans protect against production loss. Revenue-based plans consider both yield and price. There are also area-based plans, livestock and forage plans, and a whole-farm plan that looks at overall farm revenue, which may suit diversified operations.
Not every plan is available for every crop or county. Ask your agent which ones apply to what you grow and where.
Also ask how prevented planting, replanting and quality adjustments are handled where they apply, since these are common sources of confusion. Policy language controls, so ask for the relevant section.
What choices will I make with my agent?
You choose a plan, a coverage level and often a unit structure, and you may add optional endorsements where offered. Higher coverage generally costs more in premium, and some of the cost is subsidized, with the subsidy depending on choices you make. Premiums and subsidy rates are set by rule, so ask your agent for actual quotes for your farm.
Do not choose only on premium. Look at what you would need to receive to survive a bad year, and compare that with your costs and loan obligations.
- Plan type and coverage level
- Unit structure
- Premium quote and your out-of-pocket cost
- What a typical loss payment would look like
What deadlines and records matter?
Crop insurance has fixed dates for sales closing, acreage reporting, and reporting losses. Dates differ by crop and region, and missing one can mean losing coverage or a claim. Ask your agent for a calendar and put the dates on yours.
Keep production records, planting dates, field maps and sales documents. Claims depend on being able to show what you planted and harvested, and some plans use your history to set your guarantee.
How does crop insurance relate to FSA programs?
FSA programs and crop insurance work side by side. Your acreage report at FSA and with your insurer should match, and some disaster programs consider whether you had insurance coverage. Ask both offices how your records are used.
Lenders often ask for proof of insurance when making operating loans, so share your policy with your loan officer.
Read the policy's basic provisions and your actual production history record at least once, even if it is long. Many surprises at claim time come from details that were stated clearly in documents the farmer never opened.
What mistakes are most common?
Waiting until the sales closing date to meet an agent, misreporting acres, and misunderstanding what is covered are the usual ones. Insurance covers certain causes of loss and does not pay for every poor result. Read the policy's basic provisions.
If you disagree with a claim decision, ask for an explanation and learn the review and appeal steps. RMA's site and your agent can point you to them.
How do claims and appeals work?
If you have a loss, call your agent promptly, because policies require timely notice. An adjuster from the insurance provider will usually inspect the crop and measure the loss, and you should keep records of your own, including photos and harvest tickets.
If you disagree with an adjuster, ask for the reasoning in writing and what documentation could change the outcome. There are dispute and appeal processes under the program, and your agent and RMA's site can point you to them.
Do not destroy evidence of a loss until the adjuster releases the crop. When unsure about a step, ask first and write down the answer. Keep your insurance records for as long as your agent and the program require, and store copies off the farm in case of fire or flood, which is also useful for the disaster steps described elsewhere on this site.
Key takeaways
- RMA writes the rules and private agents sell the policies.
- Ask which plan types are available for your crops and county.
- Compare coverage to your real costs and loan obligations.
- Put sales, acreage and loss reporting deadlines on your calendar.
- Keep clean production records for every field.
Sources and official links
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Money & Grants Editorial Team. Educational only, not tax, legal or financial advice. See our editorial policy.