In late April 2026, a freeze event caused catastrophic damage to perennial crops across Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. In response, the Risk Management Agency (RMA) authorized emergency procedures to streamline loss determinations and accelerate indemnity payments for impacted crop insurance policyholders.

The emergency procedures apply to perennial crops in situations where catastrophic freeze losses would otherwise delay administration of the crop insurance program. Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs) are encouraged to inspect impacted crops and release acreage as soon as possible so producers can implement recommended management practices to prevent disease and reduce impacts on future production.

For acreage determined not to produce mature or marketable fruit, AIPs may complete Production Worksheets reflecting zero production to count without requiring appraisal worksheets, provided documentation requirements outlined in the 2026 Loss Adjustment Manual are included in the claim file. These procedures apply only when crops are damaged to the extent they will never be harvested.

Additional provisions address blueberries and peaches. For blueberries, indemnity reductions related to frost protection equipment may not apply if using equipment would have caused further crop damage. For peaches, RMA authorized use of the Immature Peach Appraisal Deviation for freeze-damaged acreage during the 2026 crop year. RMA stated it will continue monitoring the situation and may issue additional emergency procedures if necessary. More information can be found by accessing the following hyperlink: https://www.rma.usda.gov/policy-procedure/bulletins-memos/managers-bulletin/mgr-26-006-emergency-procedures-crops-damaged.

Expansion to New Hampshire and Vermont

RMA has expanded the emergency loss procedures authorized under Manager’s Bulletin MGR-26-006 (Emergency Procedures for Crops Damaged by Freeze in April 2026) via MGR-26-006.1. MGR-26-006, originally issued on May 8, 2026, provided emergency procedures for freeze-damaged perennial crops in 13 states. Based on additional damage reports, RMA has now extended these procedures to all counties in New Hampshire and Vermont for perennial crops affected by the late April 2026 freeze event.