Crop insurance is one of the most instrumental components of a strong farm safety net. But with terms like “Actuarial Soundness” or “Whole-Farm Revenue Protection,” it might sometimes feel like you need to be an insurance whiz to fully understand how this public-private partnership works.

To keep you up-to-date and in-the-know about crop insurance, National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS) has launched “Keep America Growing,” a new monthly podcast hosted by NCIS President Tom Zacharias. In just quick, five-minute episodes, Zacharias and his guests will break down how crop insurance works, why it’s important for American agriculture, and why it matters to YOU.

You’ll have a chance to hear the facts about the crop insurance industry straight from the men and women who keep America’s farmers and ranchers growing.

For example, did you know that this NCIS doesn’t actually have its own TV show? Or that farmers must purchase a crop insurance policy before they plant a crop? Last year, farmers bought more than 1.2 million crop insurance policies protecting more than $194 billion in crops and livestock.

Don’t miss this and much more in the first episode, which you can listen to by clicking here.

Be on the lookout for the next episode in February to learn about what exactly crop insurance covers – and why this coverage is so important to farmers and our country.