USDA expands double crop coverage in 681 counties

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced July 12 it would reduce the economic risk of raising two crops on the same land in one year by expanding double crop insurance opportunities in numerous counties for the 2023 growing season.

The USDA Risk Management Agency press release shares that soybean double crop coverage will be expanded or streamlined in 681 counties, including expansion in 42 Kansas counties. Most of the expansion removed barriers to receiving insurance, such as requiring production records, and simplified the process for receiving coverage through a written agreement. Written agreements are part of the process producers go through to obtain individual crop insurance coverage in a county where soybeans or grain sorghum is not insurable after a first crop.

USDA says it will examine these options over the next few months before the final rules lock in by November 30, with the possibility of adding additional counties. The agency cites supply chain disruptions as the motivation to “leverage programs and services to support domestic production.”

In the map, counties in green will not require a producer to have previous double cropping history to obtain a written agreement for insurance. Additionally, in certain areas, a blanket written agreement may be available which further reduces the administrative burden for producers, agents, and AIPs. In general, this means a written agreement offer is available without a significant underwriting review. All of the counties in yellow will go through the normal underwriting process, which may include a history requirement in order to obtain a written agreement.