A new white paper from the Agricultural Risk Policy Center (ARPC) at North Dakota State University analyzes recent trends in the use of Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) insurance for feeder cattle in Kansas, highlighting how participation has evolved following subsidy increases and periods of heightened price volatility. The study provides a detailed look at how producers are using LRP–Feeder Cattle as a risk management tool and the extent to which the program now covers a substantial share of the state’s feeder cattle market.

The paper, Use of Feeder Cattle Livestock Risk Protection Insurance in Kansas (ARPC White Paper 2026–04), authored by Brian K. Coffey and Jennifer Ifft of Kansas State University and Yifei Zhang of North Dakota State University, draws on USDA Risk Management Agency Summary of Business data to examine LRP usage patterns from 2022 through 2025. The analysis shows a substantial increase in participation since 2020, with more than 540,000 feeder cattle insured under LRP in Kansas in 2025, up from just over 410,000 head in 2024.

Results indicate that LRP participation in Kansas is concentrated among beef steers and heifers weighing between 600 and 1,000 pounds, which account for the majority of insured feeder cattle. Most LRP endorsements cover relatively small numbers of animals, reflecting the flexibility of LRP contracts compared to standardized feeder cattle futures contracts. The study also finds that shorter coverage horizons dominate, with roughly 80 percent of insured head covered under endorsements of 30 weeks or less since 2022.

Coverage selections are heavily concentrated at high coverage levels, with most feeder cattle insured at 98 percent or higher, qualifying for the highest premium subsidy rates. Placing LRP participation in context, the paper estimates that LRP may have covered between 42 and 51 percent of all LRP-eligible feeder cattle in Kansas in 2025, up from approximately 31 to 38 percent in 2024. Kansas has also maintained a consistent national presence, accounting for about 10 percent of all LRP–Feeder Cattle endorsements nationwide in recent years.

The ARPC White Paper is available through the Agricultural Risk Policy Center at North Dakota State University: https://tinyurl.com/y2cfdx7b
Media Contact:
Agricultural Risk Policy Center (ARPC)
North Dakota State University
arpc@ndsu.edu
https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/arpc