During our spring visits with members across the state, most have been optimistic that favorable conditions would allow the 2026 crop to be planted in a timely manner. However, as with all Missouri springs, conditions can change rapidly. Should challenges arise with planting or crop emergence, the following overview outlines some of the key crop insurance provisions that may apply.
Prevented Planting (PP) Coverage
Most Revenue Protection (RP) and Yield Protection (YP) policies provide coverage when an insured crop cannot be planted by the final planting date or during the late planting period.
To qualify, prevented planting must result from an eligible weather-related cause of loss that is widespread in the area and prevents other producers with similar ground from planting. Especially with these types of claims, timely communication with your crop insurance agent is essential. Claims must be reported no later than 72 hours after the final planting date or during the late planting period.
Important considerations include:
- Indemnity payments are based on approved production history (APH), the spring projected price, and the prevented planting coverage percentage defined by the provisions. When no second crop impacts the claim, payments are generally 55% of the planted guarantee for corn and 60% for soybeans.
- The 5% prevented planting buy up option is no longer available for the 2026 spring crop year.
- Eligibility requirements include:
-
A timely filed prevented planting claim
-
Prevented planting acres reported on the acreage report
-
Qualification under the 20/20 rule (a minimum of 20 acres or 20% of the unit, whichever is less)
-
Acres being prevented planted must have been available for planting
-
Ground being prevented planted must have been planted and harvested in at least one of the previous four crop years
-
After subtracting planted acres, remaining eligible prevent plant acres are based on highest of last four years of insured acres for the crop and county.
-
Late Planting
As an alternative to prevented planting, producers may elect to plant during the late planting period. During this period, the insurance guarantee is reduced by 1% per day for each day planting is delayed beyond the final plant date.
For most Missouri counties, late planting periods are:
- Corn: 20 days
- First crop soybeans (NFAC): 25 days
- Soybeans following another crop (FAC): 15 days
If planting occurs during multiple days of the late plant period, it is important to designate the number of acres planted on each specific date when completing the acreage report.
Replant Coverage
For crop insurance purposes, “replant” is defined as replanting the same crop on the same acreage that was initially planted. Most RP and YP policies, excluding CAT only policies, include replant coverage.
If crop emergence issues are suspected, producers are encouraged to contact their agent immediately. During widespread weather events, adjuster workloads can increase significantly. Policy provisions require that a claim be submitted before disturbing or replanting any insured crop.
Keep in mind that coverage for replanted acres is based on the initial plant date, so replanting during the late plant period does not further reduce the coverage.
For replant claims to be payable:
- The loss must result from a covered peril, and an adjuster must determine replanting is practical and provide authorization before work begins.
- The original plant date must be on or after the initial planting date listed in the county actuarial. *
- At least 20 acres or 20% of the unit (whichever is less) must be replanted. *
- In some cases, a self-certification replant may replace an adjuster’s on site inspection; however, a claim must still be reported prior to replanting.
*Producers with private company replant endorsements may have additional coverage, including earlier planting dates or coverage beginning with the first replanted acre. Contact your agent before replanting if you have supplemental replant coverage.
LRP Insurance
Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) insurance remains a valuable risk management tool for Missouri producers of fed cattle, feeder cattle, and swine. LRP policies are continuous, meaning an approved application remains in force until it is cancelled by the producer.
Producers interested in transferring an existing LRP policy to an FCS Financial agent must complete a transfer by June 30, 2026.
Those new to LRP coverage or seeking additional information on how the program can support their operation are encouraged to contact one of our agents.
Crop Hail and Wind Coverage
The Missouri growing season brings an ongoing risk of damaging hail and strong winds. Producers, considering hail or wind coverage, are encouraged to secure protection early before any perils have a chance to strike.
Crop hail insurance is effective at complementing RP or YP policies and may also be purchased as standalone coverage. This protection is particularly valuable for producers with Enterprise Units, as crop hail provides coverage for localized, spot peril losses.
While there is no sales closing date for crop hail insurance, wind coverage for corn is typically offered as an optional endorsement to hail and is generally available only through June. Contact your local FCS Financial agent today for additional details or to place coverage.
Third-Party Damage / Uninsured Unavoidable Fire (UUF)
If an insured crop sustains damage due to the actions of a third party that are beyond the producer’s control, it may be possible—through a timely filed claim—to exclude affected acreage and production from the production history database.
Claims must be reported as soon as potential damage is identified. Supporting documentation and, in some cases, proof of third-party negligence may be required. If a claim is not filed in a timely manner, harvested yields must be included in the APH calculation.
Producers experiencing losses from spray drift or other uninsured, unavoidable events are encouraged to contact their agent immediately to discuss reporting requirements and available options.
