The USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) is upgrading the rainfall data source used in its index-based crop insurance products, transitioning to the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). The update supports key programs like Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF), Annual Forage (AF) and other Rainfall Index offerings, strengthening the underlying data that informs coverage while keeping program design and eligibility unchanged. The shift is aimed at improving transparency and consistency in the rainfall measurements producers and agents rely on.

By modernizing the data foundation without disrupting how policies operate, RMA is helping improve confidence and usability for farmers and ranchers across these products. The transition is also expected to support more efficient processing of rainfall data, helping streamline indemnity calculations and improve the timeliness of payments under programs like PRF, reinforcing the value of index-based insurance as a practical risk management tool.

The RMA transition began on April 30, 2026, with the Tropical Storm Option on the Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index Program (HIP-WI). PRF, Apiculture and Shellfish will transition on August 31, 2026, with Annual Forage beginning on April 30, 2027.

Read the full USDA release here and view a series of helpful related resources below.