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NEW! TURFGRASS VALUE SELECT CROP INSURANCE POLICY

The USDA’s Risk Management Agency has announced the creation of the new Turfgrass Value Select multiperil crop insurance policy that will offer coverage for some Florida producers.

By: Regina Thomas and Jennifer Parrish, Farm Credit of Central Florida

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) has created a new crop insurance pilot program designed specifically for turfgrass sod producers. Launched on July 1, Turfgrass Value Select (TVS) will be available in select counties across ten states, including Florida. 

“USDA is expanding the farm safety net and offering American turfgrass producers, whose options have been limited until now, a first-ever opportunity for this type of insurance coverage,” said RMA Administrator Pat Swanson. “This program is a win for the turfgrass industry and further demonstrates our deep commitment to putting Farmers First.”1

Developed with the help of Turfgrass Producers International (TPI) over the last six year, TVS is the first of its kind for the sod industry. While talking with sod farmers during his first few years on the job, TPI Executive Director, Casey Reynolds, PhD, learned that existing USDA-RMA programs – such as the Non-Insured Disaster Assistance Program and Whole Farm Revenue Protections Program – weren’t a good fit for sod. 

“We approached USDA-RMA back in 2020 to seek approval for creating a specialty crop insurance program that is specific to our industry,” says TPI Executive Directory, Casey Reynolds. “Over the last few years, we have worked with USDA-RMA to visit sod farms to hear directly from producers so we could develop this new program.”2 

TVS allows producers to select a dollar amount of coverage for irrigated turfgrass types they choose to insure based on their expected inventory and risk management needs. For an additional premium, producers who purchase TVS can choose to add on the Occurrence Loss Option for shallow loss coverage or, alternatively, Hurricane Insurance Protection – Wind Index coverage in counties where the program is available.   

TVS Coverage Highlights:

  • In Florida the policy covers 4 types of warm season grasses - Bermuda, Centipede, St. Augustine and Zoysia. 
  • The policy is available in the following initial covered counties: Alachua, Gilchrist, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Jackson, Jefferson, Lake, Martin, Okeechobee, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk, and Suwannee.
    • If you are interested in coverage outside of one of these initial covered counties, please email TPF Executive Director, Sarah Spatola (sarahspatola@florida.com) with your request including production acreage in each county requested. TPF will collect responses to craft letters of support for program expansion.  
  • The turfgrass must be irrigated. 
  • Coverage will be based on square foot of production by type and county coupled with the approved sales value determined by the average weighted price (net of all discounts) received for each turfgrass variety sold within each type as specified in the Special Provisions. 
  • Coverage levels are available from Catastrophic (CAT) or 50% to 85% Buy Up.
  • The policy also allows for the Hurricane Insurance Protection (HIP) and Tropical Storm (TS) Endorsements  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_e8s3KetyM
  • This first year of this policy will have a Sales Closing Date of 9/1/2026 with a start date of 10/1/2026, then renewed yearly on 5/1, with a start date of 6/1, of each subsequent year. A new policy can also be written at any time there after with a 31-day wait. 

The following are covered causes of loss that occur within the insurance period:

  • Adverse weather conditions, insurable COL (e.g., hurricane, tornado, flood, etc.) except as specified in section 10(c) or in the Special Provisions;
  • Fire, provided weeds and undergrowth near the location where the insured turfgrass is grown are controlled by chemical or mechanical means;
  • Wildlife;
  • Insurance is also provided against the following if due to a cause of loss specified above that occurs within the insurance period:
    • A loss in insured turfgrass value because such insured turfgrass is dead/zero market value; or
    • Failure of the irrigation water supply.

The policy does not insure against:

  • Damage to turfgrass due to disease or insect infestation, unless:
    • A disease or insect infestation occurs for which no effective, appropriate control measure exists; 
  • The inability to market turfgrass resulting solely from:
    • The refusal of a buyer to accept such turfgrass;
    • Boycott; or
    • An order from a public official prohibiting sale including, but not limited to, a stop sale order, quarantine, or phytosanitary restriction on sales.

Additional Resources:

Farm Credit Associations of Florida will offer the policy. As a TPF Associate Member, Farm Credit is happy to assist TPF Grower Member navigate this new insurance option. Reach out to your local Farm Credit office, loan officer or Regina Thomas with Farm Credit of Central Florida at 407.721.4687 or Duane Mathis with Farm Credit of Florida at 863.303.4846 for additional information and quotes.

References: 

1  U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA). (2026, July 1). USDA Expands the Farm Safety Net, Offering Turfgrass Producers First-Ever Insurance Solution [Press Release]. https://www.rma.usda.gov/news-events/news/2026/washington-dc/usda-expands-farm-safety-net-offering-turfgrass-producers-first

2 Turfgrass Producers International (TPI). Libby Atwater. (2026, July 9). TPI assists USDA Risk Management Agency in creating new turfgrass insurance program. https://turfgrasssod.org/tpi-assists-usda-risk-management-agency-in-creating-new-turfgrass-insurance-program/

 

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