Sizzle of Summer 

April 2025

Darcy Pralle, Crop Insurance Specialist

The Summer weather has cranked up the thermostat to hot with a chance of severe storms. If you are hit by any hail or wind damage, please take a look at your farms and let your agent know which ones need to be turned in for insurance adjusters. Even if you don’t have a Hail & Wind policy, it’s worth giving your Crop Insurance agent a call if you see considerable damage. If you would like to sign up for Hail & Wind coverage, it’s not too late! A quick phone call to Ag Partners and Jim Ward or Darcy Pralle can get you covered before the next big storm hits. 

The cattle markets are also riding the summer wave as grilling season gets into full swing. Like last Summer, our beef prices have stayed high and even risen a bit. The problem is that no one knows what the next 6 months will look like. If you are even slightly concerned the cattle you are feeding now could drop in price, we highly recommend locking in your profits today. Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) Insurance can set a floor on today’s high cattle prices, so if prices have dropped when you sell down the road, you will be protected. We already have numerous cattle operations using LRP, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you want to learn more. 

We saved the best for last. The producers who signed up for the 2024 Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) might see some claim checks headed their way. The Government has released the final 2024 County yields for Corn and Soybeans across our area. In most Counties the Corn yield was average, and Soybean yields were slightly below average. This means that 2024 ECO can now be calculated with these County yields and the price drop we experienced last year in the grain market. The initial numbers show 2024 ECO paying on most Soybean policies and even some of the Corn policies as well.  If your current agent didn’t discuss ECO Insurance for 2025 you owe it to your operation to call Jim Ward or Darcy Pralle and learn how your neighbors are making so much money! 

Wish you a fun and safe Summer 

Risks And Rain

April 2025

Darcy Pralle, Crop Insurance Specialist

Planting season is officially upon us and the Risk Management team wants to thank all the producers who chose us for their Crop Insurance needs this year. Whether you have worked with us for years or you’re one of the new operations that joined us this year, we are grateful to be able to serve all of you! This year there were several nice changes to Crop Insurance products and government programs, plus the Crop Insurance prices set at $4.70 Corn and $10.54 Soybeans were better than expected. As we head into another uncertain year at least there are a few things to be thankful for. 

We are exiting a very dry March for a lot of the Ag Partners territory. Which is great for getting fields prepped, but hopefully we catch rains throughout April and May to get seeds growing. If you have any questions about replant or prevent plant don’t hesitate to reach out to us Crop Insurance Specialists this Spring. Also, keep in mind that prevent plant doesn’t have to be in muddy conditions. It can also be the hard, dried-out dirt that hasn’t seen rain in 2 months. 

If we do start catching storms and the sound of hail on the roof keeps you up at night, please consider looking at a Hail and Wind policy. These can supplement your Multi-Peril Crop Insurance, and hundreds of operations are already using these in our very wind and hail-prone territory. Unlike Multi-Peril Crop Insurance, this type of policy varies company to company, so please do some research or better yet, let us simplify it for you and find a Hail policy that fits your needs. 

Don’t hesitate to ask questions or reach out if you notice issues this planting season. It’s usually better to ask ahead of time with Crop Insurance concerns, plus Jim Ward and Darcy Pralle are always happy to help you at Ag Partners. 

We wish you the best this planting season!