Few Days Left to Consider ECO and SCO for 2026
March 15th Deadline Approaches: Understand Your Options
Recent policy changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) have fundamentally reshaped federal crop insurance, expanding coverage opportunities and lowering premiums for many farmers. With these changes now in place, farmers have a unique opportunity to strengthen their risk protection heading into the 2026 season.
But the window to act is closing fast. Farmers have only a few days left to review options and sign up before the March 15 sales closing date (SCD) crop insurance deadline (March 16 due to the SCD falling on a weekend), making now the time to evaluate whether updated coverage options fit their operations.
Read the full article to understand this year’s unique opportunities.
Every Farm Should Consider SCO and ECO in 2026
Agricultural economists are encouraging farmers to consider adding Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) and/or Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) crop insurance policies to their risk management strategies. With tighter margins across agriculture, these supplemental policies can provide additional protection beyond traditional coverage levels.
“Every farm should consider SCO and ECO in 2026,” said Gary Schnitkey, an agricultural economics professor at the University of Illinois.
ECO and SCO operate using county-level data and can extend coverage beyond a farmer’s underlying crop insurance policy. Economists say reviewing how these options fit within an operation’s overall insurance plan may help farmers better measure potential benefits and risks heading into the growing season.