Reference guide and official lookup

Crop-insurance dates

Check current county and crop-year dates in USDA’s official tools. The examples below explain the insurance calendar.

RMA reference examples

Reference examples

Static examples; county and crop year are unverified. Confirm plan, type, and practice in USDA’s current records.

Verify current county and crop-year dates at USDA

Iowa reference example

Showing an unversioned reference for Corn in Iowa; county and crop-year applicability are unverified.

ℹ️ Coverage reduces 1% per day during late planting period (June 1–25).

Late-planting arithmetic example

Illustration only: a 1% reduction per day, during an example 25-day late-planting period. Your policy and current actuarial documents control.

Days planted late:0 days

0 (On time)25 days (Max)

Guarantee Remaining

100%

Penalty Reduction

-0%

Prevented-planting reference:55% example base factor

This example factor is not a determination of entitlement. Coverage, qualifying causes, acreage history and policy conditions must be verified with your insurer.

Corn: reference dates (year unverified)

Iowa

Step 1: Sales Closing DateMarch 15

Last day to apply for coverage, change coverage levels, or elect insurance options for the crop year.

Step 2: Earliest Planting DateApril 11

Acreage planted prior to this date is not eligible for replanting payments if damaged.

Step 3: Final Planting DateMay 31

Last date to plant without an automatic reduction in insurance production guarantee.

Step 4: Late Planting Period (Ends June 25)25 days after final planting

Coverage reduces 1% per day for each day planted after the final planting date through June 25.

Step 5: Acreage Reporting DateJuly 15

Final deadline to certify planted acreage with your insurance agent and FSA office.

Step 6: Premium Billing DateAugust 15

Date insurance provider issues premium billing. Interest begins 30 days later if unpaid.

Step 7: End of Insurance PeriodDecember 10

Insurance coverage ceases on the calendar date specified or upon harvest, whichever is earlier.

Open USDA RMA Dates Map Open Actuarial Information Browser Find a Crop Insurance Agent

Special provisions of insurance, cropping practice (irrigated vs. non-irrigated), and sub-county actuarial maps may alter specific deadlines. Always confirm with your AIP.

Planning a field before its planting window?

A field audit checks soil, climate and crop fit for exact coordinates. It does not replace your policy dates.

Run a field audit

Common RMA date types

Sales closing: Last date to apply for or change coverage for the applicable crop program.
Earliest planting: Planting before this date can affect the insurance treatment under the applicable policy.
Final planting: Published last planting date for full coverage; late-planting and prevented-planting rules may then apply.
Acreage reporting: Deadline to report the insured acreage and required crop details.
Production reporting: Deadline for submitting production information required by the policy.

Source: USDA Risk Management Agency’s insurance cycle and Dates Programs map. The official tools and policy documents control.

Crop-insurance date questions

How do USDA RMA crop insurance planting dates work?

RMA sets specific actuarial dates per commodity and county: sales closing date (deadline to purchase or modify coverage), earliest planting date, final planting date for full coverage, and acreage reporting date. Planting during the 25-day late-planting period generally reduces coverage by 1% per calendar day.

Where does USDA publish official crop-insurance dates?

USDA RMA publishes official actuarial schedules through the Actuarial Information Browser (AIB) and RMA Dates Map by commodity year, state, county, type, and farming practice.

What happens after the final planting date?

Crops planted during the late-planting period receive reduced insurance guarantees (typically -1% per day). After the late-planting period ends, prevented-planting indemnity provisions (typically 55% to 60% of original coverage) may be triggered if severe weather prevented timely planting.

Is a deadline shown in a search result enough?

No. Check the crop year and every applicable selection in the current actuarial documents. A date for another county, practice, crop type, or plan may not apply.