PIA National to Congress — Protect Crop Insurance & Avoid Cuts

PIA National, along with a coalition of fellow crop insurance stakeholders, sent Congressional leaders a letter urging them to protect crop insurance from funding cuts in the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget and appropriations process.

Corey Weeks is PIA National’s new head of Government Relations. He said this is a critical issue.

“Despite the critical role crop insurance plays in protecting farmers from natural and economic disasters, and its value in supporting rural economies, presidents of both parties have typically tried to cut crop insurance funding using the budget and appropriations process,” Weeks said. “PIA and its allies have, time and again, protected the funding of the crop insurance program and urge Congress to fully support the program in FY26.”

The PIA National letter was sent to key members of the House and Senate appropriations and budget committees. They include PIA Western Alliance state senators, Washington Sen. Patty Murray and Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley, and Sen. Susan Collins and Sen. Lindsey Graham.

The House members receiving the letter were Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Rep. Brendan Boyle, Rep. Tom Cole and Rep. Jodey Arrington from the U.S. House of Representatives.

The letter notes the most recent farm bill legislation has emphasized the management of risk. That emphasis has protected the interests of the American taxpayer.

“Farmers spend as much as $6.8 billion per year of their own money to purchase insurance from the private sector,” the letter said. “On average, farmers also must incur losses of almost 30 percent before their insurance coverage pays an indemnity. Crop insurance allows producers to customize their policies to their individual farm and financial needs and policies are based on fundamental market principles, which means higher risk areas and higher value crops pay higher premiums for insurance. Crop insurance and its links to conservation further ensure that the program is a good investment for taxpayers.”

The letter also refers to a survey done last year that points out the U.S. farm economy is close to, or already in, a recession. PIA National says that’s because of commodity price hikes and fewer benefits from the Title 1 farm programs.

PIA National says it is continuing to advocate for the protection of the crop insurance program this year, and will remain vigilant against any attempts to cut the program during the upcoming Farm Bill reauthorization process.

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