2026 Wheat Claims: What to Expect
The unprecedented spring drought we are experiencing has many growers asking how they should handle their wheat. Some farmers have a market for wheat as hay, while others are taking it to harvest or wanting to burn it down and plant an early second crop.
All of these options are available under your crop insurance policy, but each has a different protocol for loss adjustment which we will lay out here.
Turn a claim in immediately if you have drought damage! In a year like 2026, this likely includes everyone. Turning in a claim does not affect your premiums and there is no penalty if there turns out to be no loss. As almost all the insured wheat in the region will need to be examined this year, the sooner you can get your claim turned in, the better.
If you intend to mow your wheat for hay or destroy it to plant an early second crop, it must be appraised before you do so. Alternatively, the adjuster can give you authorization to leave strips in the field that can be appraised at a later date if you need to start mowing/planting your second crop before they can come.
Late April is fairly early in the wheat season to appraise wheat. Typically, the longer the wheat has to mature, the more accurate the appraisal will be. At this point, the rules laid out in the federal procedures used by the adjusters are likely to determine a higher yield result (and therefore smaller claim) than if the wheat is allowed to go longer.
If mowing some for hay- Call immediately and an adjuster can appraise the wheat you intend to mow. If you don’t mind leaving strips, the adjuster can allow you to cut the hay and appraise the strips later for a more accurate (and likely lower) bushel count.
If destroying some to plant a second crop or simply not worth harvesting- Call immediately to turn in a claim. You’ll get a more accurate appraisal the later it occurs, but the adjuster will work with you to schedule it for a time that works best for you. If you want it appraised immediately, this is possible, but understand that the bushel count is likely to be higher than it would be later in the season.
If you plant to take everything to harvest- Call immediately to turn in a claim. Once the wheat is harvested, the adjuster can evaluate a claim based on the amount harvested and any quality damage.
Turning in a claim and getting an appraisal does not commit you to any course of action. If you have wheat you intend to destroy appraised, you are able to change your mind and take it to harvest. Final wheat production will not be locked in until a claim is finalized and signed!
Harvested wheat is likely to have quality issues in a year like this. Depending on the type and amount of quality damage, the number of gross bushels you harvest will be reduced by the adjuster. It is vital to turn in a claim early when the damage is related to quality. Samples can sometimes be taken from the bin but it may be better or necessary/better to take them from the field depending on the type of quality damage and if you have Optional Units on your policy. For some quality related causes of loss, the adjuster will need to take samples from the field or truck before it goes into storage.
Additionally, for some quality damage, the adjuster can only reduce the gross bushels based on sampling results for wheat that is still in storage at the time the loss is finalized.
Anything already sold at loss time may be reduced using what’s called Reduction in Value. If the mill is paying $4.00/ bu for feed wheat and reduces you $0.40 due to falling numbers, the adjuster will reduce those bushels by 10% ($0.40/$4.00 = 0.10 → 10%). The fact that it’s feed wheat and going for much less than milling wheat does not matter.
This can lead to different scenarios that are difficult to predict. If you hold your wheat to wait on testing and it comes back with minor quality issues, you may suffer when you do sell if prices have dropped at the mill. However, if you sell and the mill only docks you 10% but your falling numbers are incredibly low, your production will only be reduced 10% whereas it would have been reduced 50% if you’d held onto the wheat until the claim is finalized. Then you could sell the wheat after you collect and it would not affect the indemnity.
It’s impossible to say for certain what the best course of action is at this time. When we have a better idea of what the quality issues will be, we will send out more information about what the best practices are for that type of damage. For now, remember that turning in a claim early is always important and feel free to call your agent or adjuster with questions. They may not be able to give you a hard recommendation, but we will be able to clarify the situation and help you make the right decision.
A note about quality claims.
When there is widespread quality damage and sampling is needed, there are always rumors of agents or adjusters telling growers to pull their own samples or put some grain in a bucket for the adjuster to pick up later. THIS IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE FORM OF SAMPLING and a review revealing that it had taken place could result in a claim being turned down, or in the farmer having to pay back money for a claim that had already been paid.
If you are told to pull your own samples, call your agent and request that samples are pulled by the adjuster. We all know how important timing is for wheat harvest and late bean planting, and no one wants to leave strips or slow down while they wait for samples to be pulled. However, the inconvenience of leaving strips is significantly better than your claim being denied, or worse, owing money back.
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