Crop insurance continues to serve as a first line of defense against climate change for U.S. farmers. National Crop Insurance Services President Tom Zacharias spoke at a panel discussion on mitigating the risks of climate change during last week’s 2022 Agricultural Outlook Forum. Last year, farmers invested more than $5 billion of their own money to protect their crops. Overwhelmingly turning to crop insurance to manage their risks, crop insurance insured more than 460 million acres, providing $137 billion dollars in protection in 2021.

Crop insurance also works in tandem with efforts to incentivize the adoption of climate-smart farming practices. Crop insurers and USDA have worked together to improve the voluntary adoption of conservation practices that promote a healthy environment.

Read more on the benefits of crop insurance and personal stories from farmers here.