Fresh from the Empire Ag Elite Retreat in San Antonio, this episode features Jacob Little of Crop & Range Insurance delivering a masterclass on navigating the current landscape of government programs and risk management. Jacob cuts through the "alphabet soup" of the Farm Bill, offering a straight-shooting look at how changes to payment limits and entity structures can directly impact your bottom line. He also challenges producers to rethink their relationships with service providers, warning that blind loyalty in a tight margin environment is a luxury you cannot afford.

In this episode, we cover:

1. Recent changes mean members of LLCs and C-Corps now receive their own payment IDs. With the limit bumped to $155,000 per program, operations that previously capped out need to review their structure to ensure they aren't leaving valid dollars on the table.
2. The link between crop insurance and FSA elections has been severed. If a decision makes financial sense for insurance, do it. If a different decision pencils out for FSA, do that. Treat them as separate business moves.
3. If you run cattle and don't have a relationship with the FSA, get one. Programs like LFP (drought) often trigger eligibility for ELAP (transportation/feed assistance), but you have to be in the system to collect.
4. Being "married to a memory" puts you at a competitive disadvantage. Whether it is a seed dealer or an insurance agent, ensure your partners are actively earning your business every year. If they aren't bringing new ideas to the table, open-mindedness toward a competitor might save the farm.

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Connect with Jacob Little

1. Website: https://cropandrange.com/
2. Facebook: (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087121105405)
3. TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@cropandrange)

Connect with Your Ag Empire:

1. Follow on Instagram @youragempire
2. Follow on Facebook
3. Subscribe on YouTube
4. Follow on LinkedIn
5. Follow on TikTok
6. Check out our website

Resources & Links:

1. Learn more about the Elite Mastermind and how to become a member
2. Protect your livestock investment with Empire Ag’s risk management solutions
3. Join The Dirt email subscription
4. Book Jonathon as your next speaker

Mentioned in this episode:

Farming is a business—and at Empire Financial Services, we treat it like one. Our team helps farmers and ranchers get clarity on their finances, streamline bookkeeping, and build long-term stability. Click below to learn more.

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