Diamond S Insurance Agency- Raven Stalnaker

09/02/2026

Now is the time to set up a meeting to discuss coverage for the September 30th Sales Closing Date!

08/26/2026

CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

How are your crops looking as we head toward the end of August? 🌽🌱 The latest USDA NASS Crop Progress report is out for the week ending August 23! In the Midwest, corn and soybean condition is best in Iowa, while North Dakota is experiencing the worst conditions for both crops.

Watch our full breakdown of the numbers here: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/n-WlYsIWJZ8

08/26/2026

Margin Coverage Option (MCO)

Margin Coverage Option is offered as an endorsement for select crops. The endorsement provides producers with coverage against an unexpected decrease in their operating margin with a 86% to 95% band of insurance.

Starting in the 2026 crop year, the new Margin Coverage Option (MCO) will be available in addition to underlying crop insurance policies in select counties starting for corn, cotton, grain sorghum, rice, soybeans, and spring wheat.

September 30th Sales Closing Date for Corn, Cotton, Grain Sorghum, Soybeans, and Spring Wheat.
*Rice sales closing dates vary by state and county.

https://www.rma.usda.gov/margin-coverage-option

08/25/2026

Only one week left for landowners to review and consider base acre increases on farms enrolled in Agriculture Risk Coverage or Price Loss Coverage.

After reviewing the Base Allocation Summary, landowners should contact their local FSA office by Aug. 31, 2026, if acreage history data is incorrect or missing, there are “subsequent acres” listed and you would like to choose the subsequent acreage for base allocation, or to opt out of receiving any additional base acres.

Learn more: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/income-support/arc-plc

08/24/2026

08/06/2026

HISTORIC CORN AND SOYBEAN PROFITABILITY AND 2027 PLANTING

Soon, the decision-making process for the 2027 crop will begin in earnest, and Midwest farmers will begin making acreage choices between corn and soybeans. Across all regions, soybeans have been more profitable than corn in most years since 2012. This history suggests that soybeans will be more profitable than corn in 2027 because crop prices likely will be near long-run averages, general cost inflation will increase corn costs more than soybean costs on a per acre basis, and nitrogen fertilizer prices will be high thereby dis-advantaging corn production. As a result, farmers may wish to consider planting more soybeans than corn. What that does to rotations will vary by region. In northern Illinois, for example, the average crop rotation has corn planted on 60% of total acres, suggesting that more soybean acres could be planted without having soybeans following soybeans. In central Illinois, corn acres in the rotation have been about 52% of total acres, suggesting that a switch to more soybeans will result in some soybeans-after-soybeans. The extent to which these expectations will impact producers’ acreage decisions for the 2027 crop year will start to be determined in the coming months as planning begins.

Read more: https://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2026/08/historic-corn-and-soybean-profitability-and-2027-planting.html

08/06/2026

Premium interest accrual extension

You now have an additional 60 days to pay your crop insurance invoice (For crops with billing dates between July 1- Sep 30) without interest penalty. Not applicable to livestock policies. Contact me for more information.

08/05/2026

One outlet reported that “farmers will get a two-month reprieve on their crop insurance premiums this year and USDA will also reinstate prevented planting buy-up coverage as well, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced Tuesday.” Read more below ⬇️