RCIS crop tour conversations center around farmer resilience
Ongoing sponsorship of the Pro Farmer Crop Tour is more than a tradition for RCIS—it reflects a deep dedication to America’s farmers and the broader ag community.
For the 16th year in a row, Zurich North America’s crop insurance business, RCIS, served as the exclusive crop insurance sponsor of the Pro Farmer Crop Tour. This annual Farm Journal event held August 18–21, crossed seven key agricultural states—Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, and South Dakota—bringing together leaders from across the ag industry to assess the state of corn and soybeans in the Midwest.
The Crop Tour is more than a data-gathering exercise; it is a cornerstone event for American agriculture. Each year, the results are eagerly awaited by farmers, agribusinesses, and commodity markets as they provide the first indication of upcoming annual crop yields for corn and soybeans.
Dalynn Hoch, Head of RCIS, explained, “The observations gathered during the Tour are just as important as the data—especially in years when crop development varies by state due to weather and other factors such as disease pressures. These real-time insights help everyone in the industry make better decisions.”
As AgWeb.com highlights, “The Tour’s nightly broadcasts, real-time reporting and comparative yield data make it a staple in farming seasons, offering both newsworthy content and practical foresight for the farming community.”
A Tradition of Support and Expertise
RCIS’s ongoing sponsorship of the Crop Tour is more than a tradition—it reflects a deep dedication to America’s farmers and the broader ag community.
“Supporting farmers’ resilience through accessible risk management tools is at the heart of what we do,” Hoch said. “We’re honored to participate in this essential event, which also fosters knowledge-sharing and collaboration across the industry.”
RCIS doesn’t just sponsor the Tour—it actively participates. Each year, RCIS claims adjusters—19 this year—serve as official scouts, collecting data and samples alongside agronomists and other specialists. Their deep expertise, built over decades, is invaluable in assessing crop conditions and contributing to the event’s disciplined, consistent data-gathering.
“Our adjusters are very well positioned to share their expertise during this event,” said Hoch. “As claims professionals, they’ve been providing guidance and support to farmers for more than thirty years. Their insights connect what’s happening in the fields to broader trends impacting agriculture; and help them prepare for the upcoming harvest and claims season so we can be best positioned to serve our customers."
Leadership in Action
For the second consecutive year, Hoch joined the Tour for a day, scouting fields from Riverside, Iowa to Rochester, Minnesota alongside RCIS claims adjusters Corey Hulke and Brian Jensen. Growing up on a Minnesota farm—her husband and brother currently farm that same land and additional land in south central Minnesota—Hoch’s participation is personal. It demonstrates RCIS commitment to understanding the realities farmers face on the ground and delivering the support needed to keep them going.
Connecting with the Community
Each evening during the four-day tour, participants gathered for a Pro Farmer dinner and recap of the day’s experience. RCIS uses the opportunity to invite area agents and their farm customers to join them. This year, over the four days, RCIS hosted nearly 300 of its agents and farmers. “It is another way for us to review the day’s findings, share insights, and strengthen the bonds that we find so critical,” said Jeff Bahr, Head of Sales & Services for RCIS, who was among the members of the RCIS leadership team on hand in Minnesota for the Tour’s Grand Finale program Thursday evening.
Bringing Farmers and Agents Together with Washington
With great connections to its regulators in Washington, D.C., RCIS capitalized on the Crop Tour backdrop by featuring USDA Risk Management Agency Administrator Pat Swanson at an Agent Roundtable in Riverside. Cohosted by RCIS and the Crop Insurance Professionals Association (CIPA), the closed-door session moderated by Hoch and Tom Sells of CIPA, allowed invited agents and their farmers to connect directly with the RMA Administrator and engage on developments in crop insurance, including updates to federal crop insurance coverages and the Reauthorization of the Farm Bill.
“We were proud to bring the Head of the RMA together with our customers for these important conversations,” Hoch emphasized. “In today’s challenging farm economy, risk management tools like crop insurance are more important than ever.”
RCIS continues to engage in policy discussions in Washington to ensure the Federal Crop Insurance Program remains available, affordable, and viable for farmers, producers and ranchers nationwide.
Over 90 percent of insurable farmland in the U.S. is protected through the Federal Crop Insurance Program.1
It remains a vital safety net covering losses from unpredictable weather, market volatility, and shifting economic conditions—helping farmers recover and rebuild after disasters.
Hoch concluded, “Whether in the fields, at the roundtable, or advocating in Washington, I am passionate about the fact that we’re here to help create a brighter, more resilient future for American agriculture. By combining boots-on-the-ground expertise, innovative solutions and a deep commitment to our farming communities, we are helping farmers weather uncertainty and seize new opportunities.”
About RCIS
RCIS is a leading crop insurance provider serving farmers in all fifty states. In 2024, RCIS provided $2.7 billion in crop insurance protection, including covering 26.3 million acres of corn and soybeans.