Because Mother Nature doesn’t follow a schedule

Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PFR) Insurance

What Is PRF Insurance?

Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PRF) Insurance is a USDA-subsidized risk management tool designed for livestock producers. It helps you protect the value of your grazing, haying, and forage acreage against the financial impact of below-average rainfall. This coverage uses rainfall data rather than individual yield measurements, making it simpler and more focused on weather risk.

How PRF Insurance Works

Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PRF) insurance is designed to help protect livestock producers when rainfall falls below normal and forage production is impacted.

  • Protect your pasture or hay ground by selecting coverage levels of up to 90% of typical rainfall for your area.Rainfall measured by local grid data
  • Receive payments when rainfall falls below historical averages during your selected coverage periods.
  • No upfront premium is required. If a payment is triggered, it is applied to your premium first, with any remaining funds paid directly to you.
  • Coverage is structured around two-month rainfall intervals spread throughout the year, allowing you to focus protection when moisture matters most.
  • PRF insurance can be used on both owned and leased acres that are used for grazing or hay production.

PRF FAQS

  • When Do You Receive PRF Insurance Indemnities?

    PRF payments are issued when two things happen:

    • Your PRF premium has been satisfied, and
    • Rainfall in your selected grid falls below your chosen coverage level during an insured two-month interval

    PRF is self-funding. Any indemnity is first applied to your premium. Once the premium is covered, remaining payments are sent directly to you.

  • When Can I Collect PRF Insurance Indemnities?

    Indemnity payments are triggered after the official rainfall data for your selected interval is finalized. Payments are processed automatically and applied first to your premium. Any additional indemnity beyond the premium amount is paid directly to you.

  • How Do You Create the Best PRF Policy for Me?

    At Farm Shield, we build PRF coverage around your operation by:

    • Reviewing long-term rainfall history for your specific grid
    • Identifying the times of year when moisture matters most for your forage
    • Matching coverage levels and intervals to your grazing or haying needs

    This allows us to customize a PRF policy designed to work for your land, not a one-size-fits-all approach.

  • How Does the USDA Subsidize PRF Insurance?

    PRF insurance premiums are partially subsidized by the USDA. The subsidy amount depends on the coverage level you select:

    • Higher coverage levels receive a smaller subsidy
    • Lower coverage levels receive a larger subsidy

    Your coverage level represents the percentage of average rainfall your policy is protecting.

  • How Do I Qualify for PRF Insurance?

    If you rely on pasture, rangeland, or forage to support livestock, you likely qualify for PRF insurance. Eligibility is based on livestock use, not land ownership.

  • Can I Participate in FSA Programs and PRF Insurance at the Same Time?

    Yes. PRF insurance can be used alongside Farm Service Agency (FSA) assistance programs. Participating in PRF does not prevent you from using other eligible USDA programs.

  • When Is the PRF Insurance Deadline?

    PRF insurance applications are typically due December 1 for coverage in the following calendar year. This deadline allows coverage to begin January 1.


    Your Farm Shield agent can confirm current deadlines and help you prepare ahead of time.

  • How Is PRF Insurance Different from FSA Disaster Programs?

    PRF insurance is proactive and predictable, while disaster programs are reactive.


    PRF provides automatic payments based on rainfall data

    • Disaster programs require approval and are often delayed
    • PRF allows you to plan ahead rather than wait for assistance

    Many producers use PRF as part of a broader risk-management strategy.

  • How Does PRF Insurance Work?

    PRF insurance uses NOAA rainfall data for your specific grid area. You select:

    • Coverage levels (typically between 70% and 90%)
    • Two-month coverage intervals throughout the year

    If rainfall during an insured interval falls below your selected level, an indemnity is triggered automatically. No claims or loss reports are required.

  • How Does PRF Insurance Pay Out?

    When rainfall in your insured grid falls below your coverage level:

    • An indemnity is calculated using official rainfall index data
    • Payments are automatic — no paperwork required
    • Indemnities first apply to your premium

    Any remaining funds are paid directly to you

  • How to Sign Up for PRF Insurance

    Getting started with PRF insurance is simple:

    1. Contact a Farm Shield agent
    2. Complete a short application
    3. Select coverage levels and intervals that fit your operation

    Your agent will guide you through each step.

  • Is PRF Insurance Rainfall Insurance?

    PRF is often referred to as rainfall or drought insurance, but technically it’s an index-based insurance program. Payments are based on measured rainfall in your area, not on individual farm production or personal rain gauges.

  • How Are PRF Insurance Agents Paid?

    PRF agents are compensated through a commission that is included in the policy premium. There is no separate or additional fee paid directly by the producer.

  • What Is a GIS Grid for PRF Insurance?

    PRF coverage is based on geographic grid areas, each measuring approximately 12 x 12 miles. Rainfall within your assigned grid is used to determine whether coverage triggers an indemnity.

  • Where Do PRF Indemnity Payments Come From?

    PRF indemnity payments are funded through USDA-subsidized crop insurance programs and administered by the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) through approved insurance providers.

  • What Kind of Land Can I Insure with PRF Insurance?

    PRF insurance can be applied to:

    • Grazing land
    • Haying acres
    • Owned or leased land

    As long as the acreage supports livestock forage, it may be eligible.

  • How Much Does PRF Insurance Cost?

    PRF premiums vary based on:

    • Location and grid history
    • Coverage level selected
    • Productivity factor
    • Number of acres insured

    Because premiums are subsidized by the USDA, PRF is often more affordable than producers expect.

  • What Conditions Support Sustainable Grazing?

    Sustainable grazing conditions support both livestock production and long-term land health. These conditions typically include:

    • Managed stocking rates
    • Healthy forage growth
    • Reduced long-term forage variability

    PRF insurance helps support sustainability by providing financial stability during periods of low rainfall.

Have more questions?

Find our more on our FAQ page.

Transparent Guidance

We believe in transparency. You’ll always understand how your PRF coverage works and what rainfall data means for your policy, no guesswork, no surprises.

Built Around Your Operation

We review rainfall history and coverage options to create a PRF strategy designed to perform where it matters most, on your ground and during your key forage periods.

Support You Can Count On

Our team is here year-round. From enrollment to policy reviews and future planning, Farm Shield is available whenever questions come up.

You can’t control the weather,
but you can plan for it.