Page 32 2026 Spring Farm Outlook LINCOLN DAILY NEWS March 2026 OBBBA also attempts to make all levels of crop insurance more affordable by increasing the government share of crop insurance premiums from three to five percent. Farmers can have different percentages of their crops covered, with higher percentages costing more. A chart on the Farm Bureau website shows the range of crop coverage, as well as the premiums the Federal government used to pay, for farmers at those levels. See the information listed below: ● 55%-64% coverage: ○ Previous amount paid: 65% ○ New amount paid: 69% ● 65%-74%: ○ Previous amount paid: 59% ○ New amount paid: 64% ● 75%-79%: ○ Previous amount paid: 55% ○ New amount paid: 60% ● 80%-84%: ○ Previous amount paid: 48% ○ New amount paid: 51% ● Over 85%: ○ Previous amount paid: 38% ○ New amount paid: 41% The Farm Bureau article states that the idea is to make more expensive crop insurance more affordable for farmers. Better insurance translates to more money paid out to farmers in cases of emergency. What about livestock? Not all farmers grow crops, meaning the increased subsidies for crop insurance does not mean much to them. While the OBBBA does not provide any subsidies for ranchers and cattlemen like it does for crop insurance, it does provide some assurances. First, the Federal government provides a permanent extension for itemized deductions for ranchers who experienced personal losses due to natural disasters. It also requires the Livestock Forage Disaster Program to pay after four weeks of a drought and provides two payments a month. Financial losses due to livestock lost to predators are now covered 100 percent, while those due to the weather are covered at 75 percent. This includes unborn livestock. The OBBBA raised the animal health funding to $233 million per year for “disease prevention and cattle health.” There are many issues facing American farmers today. From weather disasters and bankruptcy to labor shortages. At a time when there seems to be many shadows being cast over the farming industry, assistance in crop insurance and livestock assurance can be a significant, determining factor behind a farm’s future success. [Matt Boutcher] Sources: One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act: Tax deductions for working Americans and seniors Hurricanes, Heat and Hardship: Counting 2024’s Crop Losses Farm Bankruptcies Continued to Climb in 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act: Final Agricultural Provisions Benefits of the Big Beautiful Bill for Farmers
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