Crop Insurance

U.S. crop insurance favoring commodity crops

   Many governmental policies favor conventional agriculture, including crop insurance. Since farming productivity and success can fluctuate, farmers rely on crop insurance to maintain financial stability during times of reduced crop yields. 

   U.S. Farm Bill (legislation that included federal crop insurance, farmer training programs, food access policy, nutrition access programs, etc.) favors corn and soy. Corn and soy are commodity crops, crops grown on a large scale that use environmentally damaging farming strategies. 

   75% of the U.S. agricultural subsidy money gets sent to 10% of commodity crop growers in the U.S. who largely grow corn and soy. On the other hand, roughly 7% of the total federal money is dedicated to conservation practices.

   This prioritization of commodity crops puts pressure on farmers to continue conventional farming practices in order to be covered by this insurance. 

    Sustainable farming practices often involve strategies like planting crops such as legumes, hay, and pasture which aim to build up the soil health. However, these crops do not receive nearly as much subsidies as the commodity crops (corn, soybeans, wheat, rice). 

   With this being said, it is easier for U.S. farmers to ensure conventional crops and receive payments if they experience crop losses. Cover crops (plants used to cover the soil between cash crops to build soil health) used in regenerative farming are harder to ensure. Hence, any crop losses could put the farmer in financial stress.