Herbaceous crop insurance 2026: what it covers, what it excludes and how to hire

Key data

If you have rice, cereal, legume or oilseed crop operations, the 2026 campaign already has its rules of the game. The Order APA/863/2026, published on August 14, 2026 and in force from that same date, develops insurance for extensive herbaceous crop operations within the 47th Combined Agricultural Insurance Plan. It establishes what can be insured, what is excluded, the required technical conditions and the applicable unit prices.

This is not a procedural regulation: the exclusions are concrete and can leave plots without coverage that the farmer assumed were insured. Knowing them before subscribing is the difference between receiving compensation or not.

What does this regulation establish?

The order regulates four major blocks: insurable productions, exclusions, minimum technical conditions and supplementary insurance for rainfed land.

Insurable productions

The regulation recognizes the following productions and elements as insurable:

• Rice
• Winter cereals
• Spring cereals
• Grain legumes
• Oilseeds
• Straw
• Irrigation facilities

Relevant exclusions

Not everything that is grown can be insured. The order expressly excludes the following situations:

Minimum technical conditions

For a plot to be eligible, the farmer must demonstrate compliance with minimum technical cultivation conditions. The order also sets the reference phenological stages for each species and the establishment criteria that must be verified at the time of subscription.

Supplementary insurance for rainfed land

The regulation includes a specific supplementary insurance modality for rainfed plots with productions higher than those declared. This supplement covers the excess production over what was initially declared, which is especially relevant in campaigns with yields above average.

Economic and operational impact

The direct impact of this order materializes in three areas:

• Updated unit prices: The order sets the unit prices applicable to the 2026 campaign. These prices determine the basis on which the insurance premium is calculated. Farmers should review whether the unit prices of their crops have changed compared to the previous campaign to adjust the insured capital.
• Guarantee periods and subscription dates: The regulation establishes specific time windows for each type of crop. Subscribing outside the deadline means losing coverage for that campaign, with no possibility of remediation later.
• Supplementary rainfed insurance: For operations with yields higher than those declared, not activating this supplement can result in significant underinsurance in years of good harvest.

From an operational perspective, exclusions for saline soils or abandoned plots require reviewing the actual condition of each plot before subscription. An incorrect declaration can result in partial nullity of coverage.

Who does it affect?

• Individual farmers with extensive herbaceous crop operations in Spain
• Agricultural societies and cooperatives with production of rice, winter or spring cereals, grain legumes or oilseeds
• Operations that include straw as insurable production
• Owners of irrigation facilities linked to extensive herbaceous crops
• Rainfed operations with productions higher than those declared (supplementary insurance)
• Agricultural advisors and farm managers who process agricultural insurance policies

Practical example

A farmer in Castilla-La Mancha with winter cereal plots on rainfed land wants to insure his harvest for the 2026 campaign. When reviewing his plots before subscribing, he detects that one of them has not been actively tilled for two seasons. According to Order APA/863/2026, that plot is excluded for being considered "abandoned" and cannot be included in the policy.

Furthermore, if his historical yields exceed the values declared in previous campaigns, he can activate the supplementary insurance for rainfed land that the regulation includes, thus covering the excess production. Without this supplement, compensation in case of loss would be limited to the capital initially declared, leaving the additional production uncovered.

Finally, he must verify the subscription periods set for winter cereals, since subscribing outside the time window established in the order means losing coverage for the entire campaign.

What should farmers do now?

1. Review the condition of each plot before subscribing: verify that none are in a state of abandonment, have saline soils or are used for experimentation or family use, as they would be excluded from coverage.
2. Consult the unit prices set for 2026 in Order APA/863/2026 and adjust the insured capital to the updated values for each crop.
3. Identify the subscription periods corresponding to each type of crop (rice, winter cereals, spring cereals, legumes, oilseeds) and do not leave contracting for the last moment.
4. Evaluate supplementary rainfed insurance if the operation has historical yields higher than those declared, to avoid underinsurance in case of a good campaign.
5. Verify the reference phenological stages and the establishment criteria required for each species, as their non-compliance can invalidate coverage.
6. Consult with the agricultural advisor or insurance entity any doubts about the eligibility of specific plots before formalizing the policy.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-17753