As 2025 comes to a close, NCIS’s Keep America Growing podcast takes a timely look at where crop insurance stands today, and what lies ahead, with one of the program’s most knowledgeable champions.

In the latest episode, former House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway joins NCIS President Tom Zacharias for a wide-ranging conversation on crop insurance’s evolution, recent legislative wins and the challenges facing the program in 2026.

Chairman Conaway reflects on how crop insurance has grown into a cornerstone of the farm safety net, now covering more than 540 million acres nationwide. He points to strong bipartisan investments — including provisions enacted in the 2025 budget reconciliation package — that expanded affordability, strengthened coverage options and reinforced the private-sector delivery system that keeps crop insurance efficient and accountable to taxpayers.

The episode also highlights a real-world stress test: crop insurance continued operating during the 2025 government shutdown, ensuring claims were processed and farmers received assistance when they needed it most. Conaway underscores that this reliability is a direct result of the program’s public-private partnership, which is a defining feature that provides certainty for farmers, lenders and rural communities alike.

Looking ahead, the conversation turns to 2026. Conaway emphasizes the importance of education, actuarial soundness and continued diligence to prioritize program integrity.

Listen to the full episode of Keep America Growing at CropInsuranceInAmerica.org and wherever you get your podcasts.