USDA expands crop insurance endorsements under cotton plan

United States Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced new federal policy actions on Friday, October 16, 2026. The announcement took place during Secretary Rollins's official visit to Giesenschlag Farms in Caldwell, Texas.

Under the new measures, the United States Department of Agriculture's Risk Management Agency will modify crop insurance rules. The agency will permit crop producers to purchase multiple endorsements on single crop insurance policies.

This expansion of crop insurance flexibilities is scheduled to take effect for the 2027 crop year. The updated policy rules will apply to cotton growers as well as producers of other agricultural crops.

The actions announced in Texas build upon the Great American Cotton Plan, a federal agricultural policy program that was originally launched by the United States Department of Agriculture in May 2026.

The USDA indicated that expanding insurance flexibilities is designed to protect agricultural producers from twin operational threats. Specifically, the expansion aims to protect cotton growers and other crop producers from adverse climate risks and market risks.

The Great American Cotton Plan contains broader economic objectives for the national agricultural sector. The plan's stated goals include restoring domestic cotton production and expanding agricultural export opportunities in international markets.

Federal officials noted that the regulatory decision builds upon existing statutory authority passed by Congress. The expansion builds on provisions established under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, which was signed into law on July 4, 2025.

Insurance Flexibilities and Agriculture Goals

The visit to Giesenschlag Farms in Caldwell, Texas, on October 16, 2026, provided the backdrop for Secretary Rollins to detail how the Department of Agriculture will implement the changes through its Risk Management Agency.

Allowing producers to secure multiple endorsements on single crop insurance policies represents a structural shift for the 2027 crop year. The Risk Management Agency will oversee the application of these multiple insurance endorsements for participating growers.

The Great American Cotton Plan, established in May 2026, combines these crop insurance rule changes with the foundation set by the Working Families Tax Cuts Act of July 4, 2025. The department intends for these combined measures to protect growers against adverse climate and market risks while restoring domestic cotton production and expanding export opportunities.