The Crop Insurance Podcast

To learn more please visit our website www.CropInsurancePodcast.com Get an insider's look at the complex world of Federal Crop Insurance with our podcast. With three generations, and 40 plus years, of experience in the program, we've learned the ins and outs of this important resource for farmers. Join us as we share our insights, interview farmers from across the country, and feature special guests from the insurance industry. Our mission is to help you understand and benefit from this critical program

The Crop Insurance Podcast is a business podcast hosted by Mike Rydell, with 69 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Mike Rydell hosts The Crop Insurance Podcast, a business show with 69 episodes published.

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  Episode #3

  There's Money in Your Mailbox: The OBBBA Farm Program Update

  Sep 2, 202612 minS4

  If you farm — or you write crop insurance for folks who do — there's a postcard sitting in a mailbox right now that's worth real money, and a deadline attached that nobody's saying loudly enough. This week I break down the farm-program changes coming out of the One Big Beautiful Bill: what's automatic, what you have to act on, and the dates that'll bite you if you snooze. Ten minutes, plain English, no government-handbook fog. Here's what we cover: → The base-acre postcard and the August 31 deadline to check it → Why the 2025 ARC/PLC safety net got stronger (and pays out this October) → The mandatory 2026 election — and the trap if you skip it → The big win for LLCs, S-corps, and partnerships: multiple payment limits, no more entity-level AGI test, and a September 15 window to restructure → Quick hits: SDRP's June 15 data pull, late-filed acres for 2019–2023, and the new Form 902 Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:14 Opening Credits 0:50 Ad – Crop West Insurance Group 1:19 Intro – RMA & FSA Meeting 2:09 The Postcard (Base Acres + Aug 31) 4:08 The Good News (2025 ARC/PLC Got Better) 5:37 Don't Sleep on the 2026 Election 6:49 Entities Just Got a Big Win (QPTE + AGI) 9:53 Lightning Round – Bonus Info 10:58 Wrap Up This is general info from a working agent, not tax or legal advice — for entity moves and AGI questions, loop in your CPA and your FSA office. The Crop Insurance Podcast — straight talk on crop insurance from someone who actually writes it.. Subscribe so you don't miss the 2026 election dates when FSA drops them. #CropInsurance #FarmPolicy #OBBBA #ARCPLC #FarmProgram #USDA #FSA #AgPolicy #FarmFinance #BaseAcres

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  Episode #4

  ECO, SCO & MCO Explained: What Changed for 2027 (and Why Your Old Coverage May Be Wrong)

  Sep 2, 202639 minS4

  The 2027 crop year brings the biggest shake-up to shallow-loss coverage since these products were created. Alex Offerdahl, managing partner at Watts and Associates and the architect behind ECO, is back on The Crop Insurance Podcast to walk through what's changed and what it means for your operation. In this episode: Why SCO now covers up to 90% and how that reshapes the ECO band The 80% subsidy: why the government now pays $4 for every $1 you put in ECO participation nearly tripled last year — here's why growers jumped Why buying up your individual coverage may finally make sense MCO (Margin Coverage Option) explained: input costs, price, and yield in one product The two questions that decide MCO vs. ECO for your farm Why Montana wheat growers should probably skip MCO this year (Alex explains the gap himself) The red flag to watch for in your agent's renewal conversation Projected prices are running higher than recent years, premiums will follow, and September 30 sales closing is coming fast. If you're renewing without rethinking, this episode is for you. The Crop Insurance Podcast is sponsored by the Crop West Insurance Group.

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  Episode #2

  Rural Mental Health: Breaking the Silence in Agriculture (with Jeff Winton, Rural Minds)

  Jan 27, 202657 minS4

  <p>In this episode of the Crop Insurance Podcast, I’m joined by Jeff Winton, a dairy farmer and the founder/chairman of Rural Minds — a national nonprofit focused on improving mental health equity in rural America. Jeff shares the personal story that sparked Rural Minds, what he’s hearing across farm communities, and practical ways to start the conversation, reduce stigma, and connect people to real help.</p><p>We also walk through Rural Minds’ Rural Mental Health Resilience Program — a “meeting-in-a-box” toolkit with free, downloadable materials that local groups can use right away.</p><p>Resources mentioned (start here):</p>Rura...

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  Episode #1

  You Don’t Have to Wait for a Crisis | Rural Mental Health in Agriculture

  Jan 13, 202642 minS4

  <p>In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Eric Arzubi (Frontier Psychiatry) to talk about the mental health challenges facing rural agricultural producers—and what practical support and resources are available right now. </p><p>This conversation is especially relevant for crop insurance agents, FSA employees, lenders, and ag professionals who often hear the hard stuff first. We’re not trying to turn anyone into a therapist—this is about awareness, better language, and knowing where to point people when help is needed. </p><p>In this episode, we cover: </p><p>• Why rural producers often carry stress silently </p><p>• T...

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  Episode #20

  A Farm Christmas Story: Coffee, Conversation, and a Way Forward

  Dec 22, 20258 minS3

  <p>This isn’t a normal episode.</p><p>To close out the season, Mike shares a short holiday story from farm country — one about tough years, quiet conversations, and how sometimes the most important thing is simply sitting down with someone and listening.</p><p>It’s a lighter episode, a little different, and a reminder that even in difficult seasons, hope has a way of showing up — often over a cup of coffee.</p><p>From our family to yours, happy holidays. We’ll see you in the new year.</p>

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