The Rain Rollercoaster 

July 2026

Darcy Pralle, Crop Insurance Specialist

As we head into Summer, most producers are ready to put this Spring in the rearview mirror. We can’t say we blame them; those of us in Crop Insurance aren't sad to see it go either.  
 
What started as a very dry February and March quickly turned into a rollercoaster of rain. Planting began with good conditions in April, but a late frost followed by torrential rains in May and June has left fields completely saturated. Across much of the Ag Partners area, flooded fields, replants, lost nutrients, and uneven stands have become the norm. If your fields aren't looking their best, you're certainly not alone. We are all hoping this rollercoaster evens out soon! 
 
After the heavy rains, many producers are wondering what the rest of the 2026 crop year may hold. The good news is that Crop Insurance is here to help. If Mother Nature drops your yield below your Crop Insurance guarantee, your coverage is there to protect your operation. Revenue Protection may also provide support if grain prices move lower the rest of the year as well. 
 
While this year has presented its share of challenges, there are still a few positives worth keeping in mind:  

• There is a good chance of 2025 ARC and PLC payments this Fall.  

• 2026 ECO and SCO coverage may provide additional protection if yields or prices disappoint.  

• Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF) policies have already triggered from dry conditions early this year and may provide another profitable year for  producers. 

• Discussions surrounding a new Farm Bill and other USDA payments continue.  

• Changes in global markets could provide opportunities for stronger grain prices.  

• Despite screwworm entering Texas, cattle markets remain strong, and Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) coverage continues to offer valuable price protection.  

• Thankfully, our area has avoided any major hail or wind events so far this season (if interested, we offer some of the best Hail Insurance around). 

2026 may not be an easy year, but we are grateful for the opportunity to help protect your operation through both the good and the bad years. If you have any questions about Crop Insurance or just need a friendly chat, don't hesitate to reach out. The Ag Partners team is always here to help your operation. 
 
Have a safe and successful Summer! 

Spring has Sprung 

April 2026

Darcy Pralle, Crop Insurance Specialist

The Risk Management Team wants to extend a sincere thank you to all our existing and new producers who chose us for their Crop Insurance needs in 2026. We are blessed to serve so many operations and look forward to helping you be successful for many years to come. 

This year has had big changes to the Crop Insurance program due to the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill. We saw improved subsidies and more flexibility within Crop Insurance, which allowed most producers to increase coverage and better protect their operations. If your agent didn’t help educate you on all the 2026 changes, please reach out to Jim Ward or Darcy Pralle, and we would be happy to get you the information. In addition, the Spring Discovery Prices were decent again in 2026; Corn was set at $4.52, and Soybeans were set at $11.09 for Crop Insurance. 

With Crop Insurance now locked in, the next step is to make sure you are ready for Hail & Wind or a Livestock policy if you have cattle. We have several excellent insurance companies offering Hail and Wind policies, so we can find you a good fit before storms roll through this Spring. Also, the cattle markets are still doing great again this year, but that also means we have a long way to plummet if something goes wrong (screwworm comes to mind). If you want to protect these high prices, a Livestock Risk Protection policy is one of the best routes to lock in a floor. The Ag Partners team is happy to explain the details of this cattle program and see if it is a good fit for you. 

If you run into any issues this Spring planting season, don’t hesitate to give us a call. For example, we are seeing some spots of winter kill in wheat pop up, and everyone is talking about the fog days and how it could rain all of April. Which means you might need some Prevent Plant in that event. Hopefully, these predictions are wrong, and it ends up being just a nice, smooth planting season for everyone. 

Have a safe Spring, and thanks again to all our producers!