NASHVILLE, TN – USDA’s Risk Management Agency is changing the rainfall data source used in several federal crop insurance programs, a move officials say will improve transparency, access, and payment speed without changing how coverage works. RMA is shifting from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center data to the National Centers for Environmental Information.
The transition begins immediately for the Tropical Storm Option under the Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index program. It will then expand to Pasture, Rangeland, Forage, Apiculture, and Shellfish on August 31, 2026, with Annual Forage following on April 30, 2027.
RMA Administrator Pat Swanson said producers and agents will be able to look up rainfall data themselves in formats they can actually use. The current system relies on a more technical data format that often requires special software.
RMA said the geographic grids and overall structure of the programs will stay the same, helping minimize disruption for producers. Historical comparisons show loss ratios remain nearly identical under the new source.
The agency also said the change should support faster final grid values and indemnity payments while creating a path to add more weather stations over time.
Farm-Level Takeaway: RMA says the rainfall data upgrade should make several insurance programs easier to track and more transparent without changing core coverage.