2026 Drought Affected Corn and Crop Insurance
Due to the unprecedented drought in the southeast, we’ve received many calls asking how insurance will handle late or unplanted corn. The flow chart below shows examples of how coverage is treated depending on what you do. Turn in a claim before you destroy or replant any crop! Crops that are replanted or destroyed before an appraisal may not be eligible for a claim!
Corn planted on or before the final plant date (FPD) will be fully covered (see dates below). Corn planted during the 25 day late planting period loses 1% of coverage per day. At the end of the late planting period, coverage drops to 55% of full coverage.
If you choose to destroy planted corn and plant a 2nd crop, call before you start so that the corn can be appraised. As long as the 2nd crop is planted after the end of the late plant period, 35% of the corn claim will be paid up front and the 2nd crop will have 100% coverage. (If the second crop is planted during the 1st crop’s late planting period, no PP will be paid.) If there is no loss on the 2nd crop, the remainder of the corn claim will be paid. If the 2nd crop also has a claim, the higher amount of remaining corn claim or 100% of 2nd crop claim will be paid. You will not be paid 100% on both the 1st and 2nd claim.
We can turn in Prevented Planting (PP) on corn after the FPD. PP corn pays 55% of full coverage. If you plant a 2nd crop on the PP corn land, the 2nd crop will have full coverage and the 55% PP Corn payment will be reduced to 35% of the PP value. PP acres must be reported to FSA and us by July 15.
When in doubt, turn in a claim. You are not locked into any course of action by turning one in, and you can have any combination of PP, planted, or destroyed corn. Please feel free to call with any questions! 800-660-8674
Foothills Crop Insurance is a family owned insurance agency with over 85 years of combined experience. We’re experts in tailoring policies to fit grower's operation and budget. Contact us today, and let our family take care of you like you’re one of us! 800-660-8674