Family Farm Stays Strong Through Disaster with Risk Support
In Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, fifth-generation farmer Eddie Drew Lewis III grows sugarcane with his brothers Jordan and Hunter on over 2,000 acres.
Their farm is a symbol of hard work and family history. From a young age, Eddie’s grandfather taught him one key rule—always have crop insurance.
That advice saved the farm. Over the past six years, extreme weather hit hard. A freeze destroyed all their sugarcane one year.
Another freeze later damaged 30% of their crop. A year after that, drought made planting difficult. Each time, federal crop insurance helped cover losses and kept the farm going.
“Insurance is the number one thing that you want to have on the farm,” Eddie said. “That's the first and foremost thing.”
USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) provides crop insurance that allows farmers to manage risks and recover from disasters. Approved providers sell and manage these policies in every state, including Puerto Rico, forming a strong public-private partnership.
As input costs rise and weather becomes more unpredictable, farmers face greater financial risk. Eddie explains that one bad year can cost a farmer their land. That’s why crop insurance isn’t optional—it’s essential.
Eddie’s long-time insurance agent has become like family, first working with his grandfather and now supporting the current generation. Eddie hopes to pass the farm on to his children, just like it was passed to him.
The Lewis family’s experience shows how important it is to plan for the unexpected. With insurance, they don’t just survive—they rebuild, replant, and continue their legacy.