Harvesting Crops, or Harvesting Insurance? How the USDA’s Crop Insurance Policy is Preventing a Regenerative Transition

As we emerge from yet another winter of record-breaking weather extremes, the global focus on food systems is justifiably intensifying. Regenerative agriculture continues to gain momentum as a solution to our climate woes – and many other issues, too, like social justice, improving farmer livelihoods, and revitalizing rural economies. As a producer, you may be enticed by its promises of reduced input costs, greater climate resilience, or even premium pricing. You may have even experimented with some regenerative practices like cover cropping and crop rotation. 

While we are still early in the hype cycle around regenerative agriculture, research and experience indicates that many of these benefits are indeed real. There is, however, a glaring absence in the world of regenerative agriculture: Producers who make the switch are often disqualified from the nearly $10 billion in indemnity payments available through the federal crop insurance program, leaving them to shoulder the catastrophic economic risks of growing food and fiber alone.