For the 2026 and succeeding crop years (effective for the August 31, 2025, contract change date) and for the 2027 crop year for insurance plans with a contract change date prior to August 31, 2025, the Risk Management Agency (RMA) has revised the Rainfall Index (RI) Plan Common Policy, Basic Provisions, and the Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF) Crop Provisions. The following changes are outlined in PM-25-054.

  • PRF Crop Provisions
    • Updated to clarify that insured contiguous acres crossing into an adjoining state must be insured in the state where most of those contiguous acres are located, unless the acres are separated out.
  • RI Basic Provisions
    • Clarified that land is not insurable if it is not owned, leased, or if no documentation verifies the share.
    • Clarified that insurance may continue through the end of the year if a lease is terminated after the acreage reporting date due to a landlord’s decision.
    • Leases or lease certification forms are required to be signed and submitted on or before the acreage reporting date and be effective for the crop year.
    • The definition of beginning farmer or rancher was revised, and the subsidy percentages were updated to align with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
    • Allowance for a single payee when assigning indemnity.
    • Clarified what occurs if policy and acreage report information cannot be verified, or if it is found to be false or inaccurate.
  • RI Handbook
    • Added procedures and examples addressing:
      • Leases terminated or modified by the landowner,
      • Leases terminated or modified by the insured,
      • Acreage without leases, and
      • Interval selection based on lease terms.
    • Clarified grazing permits and included additional document types for agencies issuing grazing permits along with further examples.