50 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN November 2025 PEERS NCIG PROTECTING NUTRITION PLANS WITH INSURANCE SOLUTIONS JOE ROBERTS | FNIC CHIEF MARKET OFFICER When I sit down with cattle producers across Nebraska, one topic always comes up: how to keep cattle performing when conditions get tough. Whether it’s drought tightening up pastures, feed markets driving costs higher or unexpected health challenges, the decisions around the feed bunk carry through the entire operation. I’ve learned over the years that the feed bunk is a lot like a barometer for the ranch. When it stays full and balanced, cattle thrive. When storms hit – weather, markets or disease – it’s the first place you see stress. At FNIC, we work with ranchers every day to protect that barometer with insurance tools that give producers room to make sound decisions without sacrificing herd performance. WEATHERING DROUGHT WITH PRF Not long ago, I visited with a producer who had to cull more cows than planned after two back-to-back dry summers. It wasn’t that he wanted to downsize, it was the reality of empty pastures and high hay costs. We talked through how Pasture, Rangeland and Forage (PRF) insurance could have made a difference. PRF pays when rainfall falls short of historical averages, putting cash back in hand during a drought. That support doesn’t grow grass, but it does buy hay or feed to keep the herd moving forward. The story isn’t unique. Across Nebraska, PRF has helped ranchers bridge the gap between what Mother Nature delivers and what cattle still need. For many, it’s the tool that keeps forage shortages from turning into long-term herd health problems. MANAGING FEED COSTS WITH LGM AND LRP Feed markets can be just as unpredictable as the weather. I’ve sat across the table from ranchers who locked in feed only to watch prices swing against them, cutting into margins they’d worked hard to protect. Tools like Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) and Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) step in here. LGM helps protect the margin between livestock revenue and feed costs, while LRP provides a floor under cattle prices. Both give producers confidence to keep rations consistent instead of cutting corners when markets turn rough. One Nebraska cattleman told me that, with LRP in place, he could keep buying the higher quality ration his backgrounding calves needed instead of downgrading to save a few dollars. That kind of stability doesn’t just show up on a balance sheet, it shows up in the way calves gain and stay healthy through the season. FACING DISEASE AND UNEXPECTED LOSSES Even the best-managed herds face health challenges. Respiratory issues, parasites and, in rare cases, outbreaks like screwworm or other pests can threaten both performance and profitability. Mortality or livestock coverage can soften the financial blow when losses occur. More important, having insurance protection in place gives producers the confidence to invest in prevention like vaccination programs, mineral supplementation or veterinary protocols. I often remind ranchers that protecting cattle isn’t just about reacting to CONTINUED ON PAGE 52
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