WASHINGTON — Farm owners and producers have one additional week, until April 7, to choose between Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC), the safety net programs established by the 2014 farm bill.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the extension March 27.
Producers who have an appointment at their local FSA offices scheduled by April 7 will be able to make an election between ARC and PLC, even if their actual appointment is after April 7.
Vilsack said nearly 98 percent of owners have already updated yield and base acres, and 90 percent of producers have enrolled in ARC or PLC.
“This additional week will give producers a little more time to have those final conversations, review their data, visit their local Farm Service Agency offices, and make their decisions,” said Vilsack.
If you do nothing
If no changes are made to yield history or base acres by the deadline, the farm’s current yield and base acres will be used.
If a program choice of ARC or PLC is not made, there will be no 2014 crop year payments for the farm and the farm will default to PLC coverage for the 2015 through 2018 crop years.
These safety net programs provide financial protection against unexpected changes in the marketplace. Online tools, available at www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc, allow producers to explore how ARC or PLC coverage will affect their operation.
Producers need to contact the Farm Service Agency by April 7. To find local offices, visit http://offices.usda.gov.
