As Washington turns its focus toward the 2026 midterm elections, NCIS is helping industry leaders cut through the noise with a timely new episode of Keep America Growing.

In the latest podcast, NCIS President Tom Zacharias sits down with David Wasserman, senior editor and elections analyst at The Cook Political Report, for a wide-ranging discussion on what history tells us about midterms, why margins in Congress are so tight, and which races could have an outsized impact on agriculture.

Crop insurance remains one of the rare policy areas in Congress that continues to enjoy strong bipartisan support. Lawmakers from both parties recognize that the public-private partnership at the heart of the program delivers certainty for farmers and taxpayers alike.

That bipartisan foundation is a strength, but it does not diminish the importance of elections.

Control of the House and Senate shapes everything from Farm Bill negotiations to USDA oversight and rural policy priorities. Wasserman breaks down several competitive districts and key retirements could influence committee leadership and the legislative agenda in the next Congress.

For the crop insurance community, the message is clear: regardless of electoral outcomes, education will be essential. With potential new lawmakers arriving in Washington, industry leaders know that proactively explaining how crop insurance works — and why it matters to farmers, rural communities, and taxpayers — will be as important as ever.

Listen to the full episode of Keep America Growing, and check out prior episodes, at CropInsuranceInAmerica.org.