Tuesday August 11 Ag News - Weekly Crop Progress Reports - NE Wheat Farmer on Asia Trade Mission - Iowa State Fair, Bacon Buddies, Gov. Steer Show - USDA Extends Deadline on Disaster Relief - Managing SCN - and more!

Nebraska Crop Progress & Condition Statistics - Aug 09

                               Very Short     Short    Adequate     Surplus
Topsoil Moisture .......:    31          33            35              01    
Subsoil Moisture .......:    34          32            33              01    

                              .....  Last year   Last week   This week   5YrAve
Corn Silking................:        92            89             93            96
Corn in Dough............:        56            38              55            58
Corn Denting............:        13            01              13            12
Soybeans in bloom.....:        87            90              92            94
Soybeans setting pods.:        69            61             75            76
Winter Wheat Harvested:     95           96              97            96

                                              VP       Poor       Fair        Good       Excellent    
Corn Condition Rating ...:     05          09         29           43             14
Soybean Condition Rating    03          08          27          50             12
Pasture Conditions ..........:    44          26          21           09             00    



Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report

There were 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Aug. 9, 2026. This is .4 days more than last year, when there were 4.7 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture condition rated 7 percent very short, 21 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 7 percent very short, 27 percent short, 62 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. 

Corn silking reached 97 percent, which is 2 percentage points ahead of last year. Sixty-nine percent of Iowa’s corn crop has reached the dough stage, which is 3 percentage points ahead of last year. Twelve percent of corn reached the dent stage, which is 2 percentage points behind last year. Corn condition rated 78 percent good to excellent. 

Soybeans blooming reached 93 percent, which is 1 percentage point ahead of last year. Seventy-two percent of soybeans were setting pods, which is 2 percentage points behind last year. Soybean condition rated 77 good to excellent. 

Ninety-three percent of oats have been harvested, which is 13 percentage points ahead of last year. Oats condition rated 82 percent good to excellent. 

Pasture condition rated 66 percent good to excellent.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report

Corn condition ratings were unchanged for the second consecutive week while soybean ratings declined slightly, according to USDA NASS's weekly Crop Progress report released Monday.

CORN
-- Crop development: Corn silking was pegged at 94%, 1 percentage point ahead of both last year and the five-year average of 93%. Corn in the dough stage was estimated at 61%, 5 percentage points ahead of last year's 56% and 6 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 55%. Corn dented was estimated at 16%, 3 percentage points ahead of last year's 13% and 4 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 12%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 61% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition, steady with the previous week and 11 percentage points below last year's 72%. Fourteen percent of the crop was rated very poor to poor, equal to the previous week and 7 percentage points above the previous year's 7%. 

SOYBEANS
-- Crop development: Soybeans blooming was pegged at 93%, 3 percentage points ahead of last year's 90% and 2 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 91%. Soybeans setting pods were estimated at 74%, 5 percentage points ahead of both last year and the five-year average of 69%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 62% of soybeans that had emerged were in good-to-excellent condition, 1 percentage point below the previous week's 63% and 6 percentage points below the previous year's 68%. 

WINTER WHEAT
-- Harvest progress: Harvest moved ahead 5 percentage points last week to reach 91% complete nationwide as of Sunday. That was 2 percentage points ahead of last year's 89% and steady with the five-year average. 

SPRING WHEAT
-- Harvest progress: Spring wheat harvest jumped ahead 19 percentage points last week to reach 24% complete as of Sunday. That was 10 percentage points ahead of last year's pace of 14% and 5 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 19%. 
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 51% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition nationwide, down 4 percentage points from the previous week's 55%.



DTN Digital Yield Tour Estimates US Average of 178.5 BPA Corn, 52.1 BPA Soybeans for 2026

The 2026 DTN Digital Yield Tour kicked off Monday, Aug. 10, with the release of the tour's first-ever national yield estimates. According to yield models as of Aug. 1, DTN predicts a national average corn yield of 178.5 bushels per acre (bpa) and an average soybean yield of 52.1 bpa in 2026.

Last month, in its World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report, USDA estimated national average corn yield at 183.0 bpa for the season, while national average soybean yield was pegged at 53.0 bpa. These USDA projections are based on a weather-adjusted trend assuming normal planting progress and summer growing season weather. The DTN models update every two weeks and do not incorporate weather forecasts.

While the DTN Digital Yield Tour is in its ninth season, this is the third year that employs DTN's proprietary crop yield models. The DTN team combines the data-driven, view-from-above forecasts with boots-on-the-ground insight from farmers, agronomists and other experts to paint a picture of corn and soybean yield potential as the crops push toward the season's finish line.



No Yield Record Likely in Iowa, But DTN Still Projects 214 BPA Corn Crop

Some early stages of drought could affect yields in some Iowa counties, but the 2026 DTN Digital Yield Tour still forecasts a strong crop yield that will be among the state's best years in corn production, while soybean yield could slip slightly.

DTN projects Iowa will have the highest corn yield in the country at 214 bushels per acre (bpa). Iowa also is projected to have the second-highest soybean yield in the country at 61.8 bpa. Grundy County in north-central Iowa looks like the state's corn yield winner at the moment, projected at 234.3 bpa. For soybeans, Sioux County in northwest Iowa is projected to lead the state with 69.1 bpa.

Iowa led the country in total corn production last year at 2.77 billion bushels. NASS pegged Iowa's corn yield at 210 bpa, which was the second-highest yield among major corn-producing states, trailing only Illinois. Iowa was second in the country in soybean production and yield last year at 595.6 million bushels and 63.5 bpa, respectively.



Vice Chairwoman of the NWB Travels to Asia for Trade Mission
 
Nebraska Wheat Board (NWB) Vice Chairwoman Mary Eisenzimmer traveled to Asia July 26–30 as part of a trade mission with Governor Jim Pillen and representatives from other Nebraska agricultural organizations. The mission was designed to strengthen relationships with key international customers while creating new opportunities for Nebraska’s agriculture industry. Throughout the week, Eisenzimmer met with industry leaders, government officials and end users in Japan and the Philippines to discuss trade, wheat quality and future export opportunities.
 
The delegation's first stop was Japan, where Eisenzimmer toured Kinki Flour Milling Company in Osaka alongside representatives from the U.S. Wheat Associates and Governor Jim Pillen to learn more about the company's milling process. She also met with Rick Nakano of the U.S. Wheat Associates Tokyo office to discuss opportunities to expand Nebraska wheat exports to Japan while strengthening existing trade relationships.
 
For Eisenzimmer, the opportunity to meet directly with Japanese millers underscored the importance of maintaining strong relationships with one of America's largest wheat customers.
 
"Japan is the third-largest importer of U.S. wheat, and it's important for them to import several different classes of wheat. It was an incredible opportunity to talk firsthand with end users of our wheat products." Eisenzimmer said.
 
The second leg of the trade mission took the delegation to the Philippines, where they met with executives at Gardenia Bakeries, the country's largest bread manufacturer, to promote the quality and value of Nebraska wheat. Eisenzimmer also connected with grain buyers from San Miguel Corporation, one of the country's largest food distributors.
 
"San Miguel is the primary food distributor in the country. They purchase wheat from the U.S. and retail flour to grocery stores and bakeries. They are very interested in purchasing more hard red winter wheat because breads and noodles are a daily staple in the Filipino diet." Eisenzimmer said.
 
While in Manila, Eisenzimmer also toured the U.S. Embassy and met with newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton and members of his cabinet to discuss the country's economy and future trade opportunities.
 
The following day, the delegation attended the World Food Expo, where they participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of the new USDA booth.
 
The Philippines is the second-largest export market for U.S. wheat, purchasing an average of $783 million in American wheat each year. Maintaining a Nebraska presence in this important market helps build relationships with potential buyers while strengthening connections with wheat and flour milling professionals.
 
Each stop on the trade mission provided valuable opportunities to strengthen partnerships between American, Japanese and Filipino agricultural leaders. These experiences deepen international understanding of Nebraska's wheat industry and reinforce the state's commitment to providing a reliable, high-quality wheat supply to customers around the world.
 
Looking back on the mission, Eisenzimmer said the relationships formed throughout the week reinforced the value of face-to-face engagement with international customers.

"Various representatives on the trade delegation met with different people to discuss trade opportunities, and I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to meet with end-product consumers and build stronger relationships with them. What stuck with me most was hearing that they prefer wheat from the U.S. over wheat from other countries because of its high quality and protein content." Eisenzimmer said.
 
She said those conversations also provided valuable insight into the global importance of U.S. agriculture.
 
"It was an eye-opening experience to speak with millers and grain merchandisers at that level and learn how heavily the Philippines relies on U.S. agriculture for food security. This mission, and trips like this, are important because they allow us to see firsthand how commodity boards and U.S. agriculture influence the global marketplace." Eisenzimmer said.
 
The NWB invests wheat checkoff dollars in international market development efforts such as trade missions like this one. These visits strengthen relationships with international industry professionals, showcase the quality and reliability of Nebraska wheat, and help ensure the state's producers remain competitive in the global marketplace.



Special Olympics Athletes to Shine at Bacon Buddies Show During Iowa State Fair
    
Special Olympic athletes from across Iowa will take center stage at the Iowa State Fair's Bacon Buddies® pig show on Saturday, August 15. With the support of Iowa FFA and 4-H mentors, athletes will proudly showcase their pigs in the Swine Barn during one of the Fair's most inspiring and heartwarming events.

Now in its seventh year at the Iowa State Fair, the Bacon Buddies® show is a partnership between the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) and Special Olympics Iowa (SOI). The program pairs individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities with 4-H and FFA youth, creating a memorable opportunity to experience the excitement of showing pigs on one of Iowa's biggest stages.

"Bacon Buddies is one of the most rewarding events we participate in all year," said IPPA President Dean Frazer, a pig farmer from Conrad. "Caring for people is one of the We Care ethical principles that guide Iowa pig farmers, and Bacon Buddies is one of the many ways we put that commitment into action.”

Each Special Olympics athlete is paired with two 4-H or FFA mentors who provide guidance on pig care, showmanship, and interacting with judges while building friendships that often extend well beyond the fairgrounds.

"Thanks to the incredible partnership and vision of the Iowa Pork Producers Association, Special Olympics Iowa athletes have the opportunity to step into the show ring, build confidence, develop new skills, and create meaningful friendships with Iowa's 4-H and FFA youth,” said John Kliegl, president and CEO of Special Olympics Iowa. “These moments extend far beyond the fairgrounds. They change perceptions of individuals with intellectual disabilities, strengthen communities, and remind all of us that everyone deserves the chance to shine.”

SOI is also recognizing the outstanding commitment of the 4-H and FFA mentors who make the program possible. This year, the organization will award four $500 scholarships to participating mentors through a random drawing, celebrating their dedication to serving others and creating meaningful experiences for Bacon Buddies athletes.

What began as a single event at the Iowa State Fair has grown into a statewide movement. This year, nearly 50 county fairs hosted Bacon Buddies® shows, allowing hundreds of Special Olympic athletes the opportunity to experience the joy of showing pigs with the support of dedicated youth mentors. IPPA continues to assist county organizations by providing organizational resources, promotional materials, and grant funding to help expand the program.

“It's a celebration of inclusion, friendship, and the power of agriculture to bring people together,” Dean Frazer added. “Watching our Bacon Buddies and their 4-H and FFA mentors share the show ring reminds us that this event is about so much more than livestock—it's about creating confidence, building connections, and making sure everyone has the opportunity to shine. You can't help but leave with a smile."

The Bacon Buddies® show begins at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 15, in the Swine Barn at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The event is free, with paid admission to the fair, and open to the public.

For more information about the Bacon Buddies® program, visit iowapork.org.



Governor's Charity Steer Show Saturday at Iowa State Fair

Another year of the Iowa State Fair is just around the corner, and the excitement for this year’s annual Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show is mounting. This event, hosted by Gov. Kim Reynolds and coordinated by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) and the Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC), highlights the compassionate nature of Iowa’s cattle producers, as all proceeds from the event go to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa.              

Hundreds of fairgoers will attend the August 15 event, featuring youth, industry supporters, local celebrities, and of course, steers. Each steer is exhibited by a local youth representative and a guest celebrity showman selected by the steer's sponsor. We will welcome 25 show teams into the ring this year.              
“The Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show highlights the good nature of the beef cattle industry and brings together a valuable collaboration between producers, industry supporters, youth, and community namesakes for an important cause,” said Jenna Bailey, ICA member services and Governor’s Charity Steer Show co-chair. “It is an honor to serve the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa, which provides a crucial service to families in need. The youth participants of the Governor’s Charity Steer Show showcase the giving nature of our industry and offer a local connection to support this meaningful event.”             

The Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show has been held since 1983 and has raised over $6 million since its inception. Last year, the show raised more than $569,000, setting yet another new record for money raised. Funds are raised through online donations, sponsorships, and an auction of steers following the show.             

All money raised benefits the three independent Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa, located in Des Moines, Iowa City, and Sioux City. These three houses have served over 55,000 families from all 50 states and many foreign countries. Families from all 99 counties in Iowa have benefited from the Ronald McDonald Houses of Iowa, too.              

“The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa is a worthwhile charity and great partner,” said Casey Anderson, IBIC director of industry relations and Governor’s Charity Steer Show co-chair. “The houses provide a home away from home for families of seriously ill or hospitalized children. It isn’t hard to imagine the burden lifted during an already difficult time, knowing you have a place to stay near your child, thanks to Ronald McDonald Houses.” 

If you are interested in supporting the Governor’s Charity Steer Show, consider donating online or attending the show/auction to contribute. The Governor’s Charity Steer Show is being held in Pioneer Pavilion at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday, August 15, at 4:30 p.m. Then follow us to the Penningroth Center for the live auction, where additional funds are raised, and records are broken. For additional information about the Governor’s Charity Steer Show or to donate, visit www.iowagovernorscharitysteershow.com.    



USDA Extends Supplemental Disaster Relief Program Application Deadline, Announces New Flexibilities for 2023 and 2024 Quality Losses

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadline for farmers to apply for Stages 1 and 2 of the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) to Sept. 30, 2026. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is providing greater flexibility for farmers who experienced quality losses on eligible crops. 

Now, when applying for this key program, farmers who experienced quality-related discounts can use verifiable and reliable documentation to show quality losses due to natural disasters occurring 2023 and 2024. Farmers also now have the flexibility to use a quality loss percentage for crops having a final use that is different from their intended use. 

“The Trump administration is strengthening the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program through these program enhancements and reducing the burden on the American farmer,” said FSA Administrator Bill Beam. “We're extending the program deadline, giving producers additional time and flexibility to document quality-related losses resulting from natural disasters. Coupled with these program enhancements, the extension helps simplify program requirements, encourages participation, and ensures more eligible producers can access the assistance they need.”

SDRP provides more than $16 billion in disaster relief payments to producers who suffered revenue, quality or production losses to crops, trees, bushes, or vines due to qualifying disaster events in calendar years 2023 and 2024. These payments are authorized under the American Relief Act, 2025. 

Producers with indemnified losses can apply through SDRP Stage 1, which leverages Federal Crop Insurance or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) data as the basis for calculating payments. Producers with non-indemnified (including shallow losses), uncovered (uninsured), and quality losses can apply for Stage 2 assistance. Eligible producers can receive SDRP payments for both Stages 1 and 2, if applicable, and for one or both calendar years 2023 and 2024, depending on losses.

Required Documentation for SDRP Quality Losses
FSA is now allowing producers to use verifiable and reliable documentation to demonstrate quality-related discounts on production impacted by natural disasters. 

For quality losses, producers are required to provide third-party verifiable documentation of the grading factors or nutrient tests and acceptable production records that illustrate eligible affected production. Verifiable documentation must be dated within 30 days of harvest. FSA county committees can consider grading factors or nutrient tests taken more than 30 days after harvest if the test or grading factor represents crop condition at the time of harvest. 

Verifiable third-party documentation for one producer can be considered verifiable for all producers with similar documentation, providing flexibility for vertically integrated operations that serve as the buying point for multiple operations, including their own. 

For producers with documentation that includes expected price, actual price received due to quality discounts, and quantity of affected production, FSA county committees have the flexibility to use knowledge of the disaster event and impact on other producers to determine documentation is reliable.

Flexibility for Quality-Related Discounts
To address quality-related economic impacts for SDRP Stage 1 and Stage 2 insured and NAP crops that were intended for fresh but sold as processed or could not be sold in a recognized market, FSA updated policy for crops with a final use different from the intended use (secondary use) and for crops not sold in a recognized market (salvage value). In these cases, producers will be required to provide acceptable production records documenting the actual production and price received.

Stage 1 Quality Loss Applications with Missing Production Data 
For SDRP Stage 1 quality losses, some applications were not generated because the pre-quality adjusted production information used to calculate the Quality Loss Percentage was unavailable. Although this production information will not be available before the SDRP application deadline of Sept. 30, 2026, producers are still required to file an application by the deadline.

Once FSA receives missing production data, impacted producers will be notified and provided with adequate time to review and re-sign SDRP applications. 

For more information on SDRP, visit fsa.usda.gov/sdrp. 



USDA Announces Availability of New Fertilizer Transportation Data

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced the launch of a new enhancement to the Fertilizer Transportation Dashboard https://agtransport.usda.gov/stories/s/dtqv-e4ux on its Agricultural Transportation Open Data Platform (AgTransport https://agtransport.usda.gov/). The enhancement adds anhydrous ammonia pipeline rates (measured in dollars per ton) to complement existing fertilizer data. Anhydrous ammonia is used as a fertilizer but is also the precursor to all nitrogen-based fertilizers, with most ammonia moved by pipeline in the United States.

The new pipeline dataset includes five origins (three in Louisiana, one in Arkansas and Iowa) and 25 destinations (mostly in the Corn Belt). In addition, new charts will show pipeline rates from Donaldsonville, La. (the largest nitrogen-producing plant in the world); Taft, La. (a deepwater import facility); and Garner, Iowa (a facility that receives ammonia by rail, from Canada).

The Fertilizer Transportation Dashboard
The Fertilizer Transportation Dashboard offers a variety of important, regularly updated fertilizer transportation indicators. These indicators include fertilizer production, inventory, and disappearance data for each primary nutrient (i.e., nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium); U.S. fertilizer imports (both by primary nutrient and by individual fertilizer commodity); and fertilizer price data by region for key fertilizer commodities (i.e., ammonia, urea, UAN, DAP, MAP, and potash). The dashboard also includes rail volume and shipment characteristics from the Surface Transportation Board’s public-use carload waybill sample; weekly rail carloads of fertilizer; a collection of rail tariff rates (i.e., fertilizer freight costs) for key routes by fertilizer commodity; and monthly barge volumes for key locks on the Mississippi River System.

These enhancements to the AgTransport Platform support USDA’s strategic priority to protect and expand American agriculture by strengthening the resilience of our nation’s food and agricultural systems. 



Manage SCN with Genetic Resistance, Nematicides and Rotation

Soybean cyst nematodes (SCN) cost growers $1.5 billion a year in lost yield and are increasingly overcoming the most common resistance source.

The rhg1b gene was derived from the PI88788 breeding line in the 1990s and quickly became the most common resistance source to SCN. Recent studies in several states have shown that a high percentage of fields have elevated SCN reproduction on the rhg1b gene from PI88788. As SCN evolve, their populations rise, and soybean yield losses increase.

Many of the soybean varieties across the industry today rely solely on the rhg1b gene. A small number of elite varieties use multiple genes for resistance, mostly derived from Peking resistance.

To expand on Pioneer’s leadership position in SCN control, Pioneer researchers have developed new native traits that will be delivered in products with proven technology such as Peking and PI88788. Incorporating these new native traits with proven technology will protect durability and allow for rotation of current SCN traits. These product lines are set to launch in the coming years.

In current production systems, selecting soybean varieties with genetic resistance is the most important management tactic for SCN, but the first step is testing fields to determine the presence of SCN and existing resistance in the population. Soybean specialists recommend retesting infested fields every six years.

“Scouting and sampling for SCN is extremely important because the symptoms can be somewhat unclear,” said Mary Gumz, Pioneer agronomy innovation leader. “The classic expression of cyst nematode is a yellow stunted oval patch in a field following any tillage lines. However, there are other conditions that mimic cyst nematode, and SCN infestations can also be symptomless.” 

In 2021, a study found that over 80% of fields sampled throughout the Corn Belt had some level of SCN infestation, while 35% of the fields had levels capable of causing moderately high to severe crop damage.

If SCN populations are especially high, consider rotating into non-host crops such as corn, alfalfa or small grains to reduce SCN numbers. In the absence of a suitable host, the SCN that hatch each year will die, gradually reducing the population over time as non-host crops are planted. When using this tactic, it is important to control weeds such as purple dead nettle and henbit, because they can act as alternative hosts for SCN.

Nematicide seed treatments can supplement any current management strategies. Pioneer research has shown Victrato® fungicide/nematicide provided a statistically significant reduction in SCN cysts on soybean roots when added to the standard fungicide and insecticide seed treatment package.

 

Register Today for CattleCon 2027
 
CattleCon 2027 is returning to the Music City Center in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, Feb. 2-4, 2027, with business meetings beginning Feb. 1. Attendee registration and housing are now open for the biggest cattle industry event of the year.

As the cattle industry continues to evolve, CattleCon 2027 offers producers the opportunity to stay ahead of what’s next. Attendees will gain practical insights, explore the latest innovations, connect with industry leaders and peers, and participate in discussions that will help shape the future of the beef cattle business. More than an annual convention, CattleCon is where producers invest in the knowledge, relationships and opportunities that position their operations for success.

“Whether you are part of a multi-generation ranch or just getting started in the cattle business, CattleCon 2027 has something for everyone,” said NCBA President Gene Copenhaver. “I’m looking forward to welcoming everyone to Nashville to experience the best our business has to offer.”

There is plenty to see and do, so plan to come early and stay a little longer. Some activities, including ANCW meetings begin on Sunday, Jan. 31, and NCBA Policy Committee and Region meetings are on Monday, Feb. 1. The Opening General Session and NCBA Trade Show officially kick things off on Tuesday, Feb. 2. Stick around for post-show activities on Friday, Feb. 5, including the Grazing Management Workshop and Tour, as well as the NCBA Agricultural Tour.

CattleCon 2027 features popular events such as Cattlemen’s College, CattleFax Outlook Session, D.C. Issues Update, Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame Banquet, Prime Cut Awards Ceremony, along with more surprises to be announced. Producers actively engage as they participate in NCBA policy meetings and guide Beef Checkoff committee discussions. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, American National CattleWomen, CattleFax and National Cattlemen’s Foundation also hold annual meetings during the event.

The award-winning NCBA Trade Show includes acres of displays as well as live cattle handling demonstrations, educational sessions and entertainment. The Marquee Stage returns featuring engaging sessions with industry experts. Trade show exhibitors showcase the latest advancements, from equipment and technology to pharmaceuticals and feed supplements, all conveniently located under one roof.

Register early for the best rates and housing selection. For more information and to register, visit convention.ncba.org.



Forage Production Insurance Changes
Matthew Diersen, Risk & Business Management Specialist, South Dakota State University

Earlier this summer, the USDA’s Risk Management Agency announced major changes to hay insurance for many states. The affected product, Forage Production, has historically insured against yield losses on alfalfa and alfalfa mixes in dairy states. Beef producers have been able to use the product too as it covers the hay crop and not cattle. The change adds revenue insurance to forage (hay) in many states.

In the June Acreage report, USDA’s NASS estimated there were 50.0 million acres of hay expected to be harvested nationwide in 2026. Alfalfa was estimated at 15.0 million acres while other hay accounted for 35.0 million acres. Forage Production insurance covered only 1.4 million acres. Of those, there were 0.5 million acres insured in South Dakota, 0.4 million acres in Montana, 0.1 million acres in Wisconsin, and 0.1 million acres in North Dakota.

Beginning with coverage for 2027, the revenue feature means that Forage Production will include Revenue Protection (RP) for selected counties in the following states: California, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin. RP should be familiar with crop producers and insurance agents, as it is commonly used for corn, soybeans, and wheat. RP ties the projected and harvested price for hay, through a formula or equation, to a combination of futures prices for corn, soybean meal, and Class III milk. Hay prices in the affected states have positive correlations with the futures prices for the past two decades. The correlation tends to be the highest between hay prices and soybean meal futures, reflecting the protein content of alfalfa. The correlation is slightly lower between hay and corn futures. In non-dairy states, the correlation is often weaker between hay prices and milk futures in some of the states.

A key feature of revenue insurance is that the indemnity payment can increase if the underlying crop price increases before harvest. For producers raising hay for on-farm use, having RP would generally mean a higher indemnity payment when there are yield losses. A higher indemnity payment means more funds would be available to buy replacement feed. For producers that routinely raise hay to sell to others, having RP would protect revenue streams better when forward selling hay compared to just having yield insurance.

There are alternatives for producers in other states. Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PRF) coverage is available nationwide and can generally cover haying. PRF covered 8.3 million acres for haying across the U.S. in 2026. Texas had the most acres covered with PRF at 1.9 million acres. Florida was next with 0.9 million acres, followed by South Dakota with 0.7 million acres. Producers may also consider the Non-insured Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) for forage. However, such coverage is still minimal for forage crops.