by Aaron Berger, University of Nebraska

The use of Pasture Range and Forage (PRF) Insurance in Nebraska has increased significantly during the last several years as producers have utilized this tool to help offset losses in forage production due to a lack of precipitation. In 2025, more than 315 million acres of perennial forage production was insured for precipitation in the United States. What many producers don’t realize is that this insurance is available for all perennial forage crops, including alfalfa, sub-irrigated meadows and even irrigated pasture.

The thought of buying precipitation insurance for hay production on sub-irrigated meadows and irrigated perennial forages often doesn’t come to mind for many producers. However, when it doesn’t rain, sub-irrigated meadows produce less, and more irrigation water is needed to get the same level of forage production under a pivot, increasing pumping and equipment costs. For those in parts of the state where water allocations are in place, a lack of precipitation directly affects the amount of forage that can be grown with limited irrigation.

An article titled “Pasture, Rangeland, Forage Insurance: Trends, Takeaways and Sign-Up for 2026 Coverage” highlights the following statistics regarding PRF Insurance.

• National PRF participation has more than doubled since 2019, covering more than 296 million acres in 2024.
• On average, producers received $2.19 in indemnities for every $1 paid in premiums from 2019–2024.
• Producers can use RMA’s PRF Rainfall Index Decision Support Tool to evaluate options and develop long-term coverage strategies. To use the tool, go to https://go.unl.edu/PRFTool .

The deadline to sign up for coverage for 2027 is Dec. 1, 2026. For producers who haven’t utilized this insurance before, the PRF Rainfall Index Decision Support Tool can help them evaluate how this insurance product could work in their operation.

The 2026 year has been extremely dry in much of Nebraska. This is a year when buying insurance would have resulted in large indemnities, which would help to offset loss of perennial forage production on dryland, sub-irrigated meadows, and irrigated grazing or hay production. While insurance indemnities wouldn’t have made up for the additional irrigation expenses and economic loss from reduced forage production, it would provide additional income to help with these costs.