Illinois Farmers Tell the Crop Insurance Story
There is no better way to understand the value of crop insurance than to hear directly from the people who depend on it. NCIS recently traveled through Central Illinois to visit with farmers and crop insurance professionals about the risks facing agriculture, the decisions they make every day, and the role crop insurance plays in […]
Voices from the Field: Crop Tour Highlights Risk and Resilience
What does American agriculture look like from the ground? In the latest episode of Keep America Growing, NCIS President Tom Zacharias takes listeners along on the Pro Farmer Crop Tour to hear directly from farmers, crop insurance professionals and others walking the fields and assessing this year’s corn and soybean crops. RCIS President Dalynn Hoch, who […]
Opening the Husks: Inside the Pro Farmer Crop Tour
Every August, crop scouts fan out across the Corn Belt for the Pro Farmer Crop Tour, getting their boots dirty and providing an early look at the nation’s corn and soybean crops. In the latest episode of Keep America Growing, NCIS President Tom Zacharias joins the Tour and sits down with longtime Pro Farmer leader […]
New Podcast Explores the FCIC and How Crop Insurance Evolves
What role does the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) play in America’s farm safety net? How does crop insurance continue to evolve alongside changing technologies, crops, and risks? Those questions are at the center of the latest episode of Keep America Growing, featuring Dr. Robert Johansson, former USDA Chief Economist and former Chairman of the […]
Celebrating America’s Agricultural Legacy at 250
As America marks the 250th anniversary of its founding, the latest episode of Keep America Growing takes listeners on a journey through the nation’s agricultural history, and the remarkable role risk management has played along the way. Hosted by NCIS President Tom Zacharias, this special Independence Day episode reflects on the deep connection between agriculture […]
Crop Insurance Basics: Why “Ex Ante” Matters
When economists discuss successful safety net policies, they often use the terms ex ante and ex post. While those phrases may sound academic, they help explain one of the biggest strengths of the federal crop insurance program. Simply put, ex ante means “before the event,” while ex post means “after the event.” Crop insurance is built on an ex ante foundation. Long […]
Updated CropInsurance101.org Offers New Resources, State Fact Sheets
NCIS recently refreshed and expanded CropInsurance101.org, making it easier than ever for policymakers, reporters, and agricultural stakeholders to access information about how America’s crop insurance system operates. Among the updates are newly refreshed state fact sheets in the website’s “In My State” section, offering state-by-state snapshots of crop insurance participation, acres protected, commodities covered, and […]
Policy, Pressure, and the Path Forward: NCIS Podcast Explores Current Challenges
The latest episode of NCIS’s Keep America Growing podcast takes a closer look at the mounting pressures facing U.S. agriculture, and how policy and policymakers are responding. Featuring Dr. Bart Fischer of Texas A&M University, the conversation offers a candid assessment of today’s farm economy and the role of the safety net moving forward. Fischer doesn’t sugarcoat […]
New Podcast Explores Tightening Margins on the Farm and Risk Management Decisions
In the latest episode of Keep America Growing, NCIS President Tom Zacharias sits down with University of Illinois Professor Gary Schnitkey to discuss the economic realities facing farmers heading into the growing season. Building on a recent conversation with an Illinois crop insurance agent, this episode takes a broader look at the farm economy, where tightening margins, rising […]
NCIS Highlights Record Crop Insurance Growth in New Video Series
The National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS) just released two new short videos highlighting the continued strength and nationwide reach of the federal crop insurance program in 2025 — a record-setting year for farmer participation and protection. The videos underscore a simple but important point: in an environment defined by tighter margins and increased weather volatility, […]