Having a tough time getting a straight answer, and wondering if anyone else had this issue. 2024 was a major drought here, like 2012 level. For 2024, I had margin protection crop insurance as my only crop insurance policy. For the 2024 crop year, I only obtained Margin Protection as a crop insurance policy. Nothing else on corn and soybeans.

My margin protection policy paid out the claim in late June of 2025. Was told this was due to margin protection being based on a county wide averages, and that it just took longer for that data to be collected.

When Stage 1 of the SDRP was paid out, I did not recieve payment on the corn and beans. Was told that the FSA application system was based entirely on the amount of the insurance claim (as of early June) and since the claim had not been paid at that time, then they could not issue any payment under stage 1 of the SDRP. Was advised that Stage 2 would correct this situation.

Well, Stage 2 was annouced and I went to sign up and was advised that I was not eligible due to having margin protection policy, and it is based on county average, not an individual's yield. I understand that MP is excluded when it is used as an "add-on" to another "base" policy, but that if a producer has only MP, it can be used to calculate a payment.

Has anyone else out there had a similar issue? Meeting with FSA later this week and want to have all my ducks in a row. Having a hard time understanding the rationale that I was just unluck in choosing the wrong crop insurance policy, but that guys that were totally uninsured will receive a payout.