As dry conditions continue to push forage decisions, some producers may be looking at annual forages as a way to fill feed gaps. That might mean oats, millet, sorghum-sudangrass, forage sorghum, rye, triticale, or other annual crops planted for grazing, hay, haylage, or silage. But along with picking the right crop, we also need to think about how we manage the risk that comes with planting it.
One tool available in Nebraska and surrounding states is Annual Forage Insurance. This is a USDA Risk Management Agency crop insurance product designed for annual crops planted for livestock feed or fodder. Unlike a traditional crop insurance policy, this product is not based on your actual harvested yield. Instead, it uses a rainfall index, comparing precipitation in your area to a long-term average during selected two-month periods. If rainfall in that grid and interval falls below the insured level, a payment may be triggered.
That distinction is important. Annual Forage Insurance does not guarantee that your specific field will make a certain tonnage of hay or grazing. It also does not measure rainfall from the gauge in your yard. It is based on a grid system, so it should be viewed as a risk management tool, not a perfect match for what happens on every acre.
For producers considering fall-seeded or summer annual forages, the timing matters. The sales closing date for Annual Forage coverage is generally July 15. That deadline applies to coverage for annual forage crops planted from August of one year through July of the next. For the 2027 crop year, that means crops planted from August 2026 through July 2027.
When signing up, producers work with a crop insurance agent to select the acres, growing season, coverage level, productivity factor, and rainfall intervals. Those choices matter, because the intervals selected should line up with the periods when moisture is most important for that crop. For example, establishment moisture may be critical for oats or rye planted for fall grazing. For a summer annual like sorghum-sudangrass, moisture during early growth and regrowth after harvest may be more important.
There is also a dual-use option in some counties and situations. This can apply where a small grain crop is used for forage, such as grazing in the fall or early spring, and then later harvested as grain under a separate policy. Availability depends on county and crop provisions, so this is one of those details that needs to be checked with an insurance agent before plans are finalized.
From a forage planning standpoint, the big takeaway is this: annual forages can be a valuable drought response, but they still carry risk. Seed, fertility, herbicide, irrigation, harvest, and fencing costs can add up quickly. Insurance will not make a poor planting decision profitable, but it may help protect part of the investment when rainfall does not cooperate.
Before the July 15 deadline, producers should sit down with their crop insurance agent and talk through what acres may be planted to annual forage, what the intended use will be, and which rainfall intervals best match the crop’s water needs. It’s also worth comparing this tool with other drought and forage risk management options..
Annual forages are not a silver bullet, but in a dry year they can be an important part of the feed supply. Pairing those planting decisions with the right risk management discussion now can help producers avoid surprises later.
Ben Beckman is a beef systems Extension Educator serving northeast Nebraska. He is based out of the Cedar County Extension office in Hartington. You can reach him by phone: (402) 254-6821 or email: ben.beckman@unl.edu.
