By Andi Anderson
Crop insurance in the United States was designed to stabilize farming and food security, but many farmers say the system primarily benefits large row crop producers while leaving small growers behind.
In Illinois, specialty crop farmers who grow fruits, vegetables, or poultry often struggle to find affordable coverage. While nearly 147,000 insurance policies were sold to corn and soybean farmers last year, only 10 specialty crop policies were issued.
Farmers like Ed Dubrick, who grows grapes, tomatoes, and poultry on a small farm, found the system too complex and inaccessible despite spending months trying to enroll.
The federally subsidized program is administered by 12 major insurance companies. These providers, many subsidiaries of foreign corporations, profit more from selling single-crop policies to large farms than from multi-crop plans for small operations.
The government subsidizes about 60% of farmers’ premiums and also pays billions annually to insurers for administration. Critics argue this structure encourages large-scale corn and soybean farming, keeping small and diversified farms vulnerable.
Experts warn that focusing on just two crops has long-term costs. Heavy reliance on fertilizers, pesticides, and drainage systems has reduced soil quality and increased water contamination.
Climate change adds new risks, with farmers facing extreme droughts one year and heavy rains the next. While diversified farms can adapt by planting crops suited to different weather, they lack meaningful insurance support.
Advocates such as the Environmental Working Group argue reforms are overdue, suggesting stronger incentives for whole farm revenue protection, which covers multiple crops. However, few agents sell these policies, and commissions are lower than single-crop plans. Legislative attempts to fix the imbalance have stalled in Congress.
For small farmers, diversity itself becomes insurance, but without fair coverage, many must rely on off-farm jobs to survive. As one farmer put it, “The diversity is my insurance, but a real safety net would help us grow.”
Photo Credit: gettyimages-brzozowska
Categories: Indiana, Crops