Agricultural producers now can enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs – two U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) safety net programs – for the 2019 and 2020 crop years.

ARC provides income support payments on historical base acres when actual crop revenue declines below a specified guaranteed level. PLC provides income support payments on historical base acres when the effective price for a covered commodity falls below its reference price. The 2018 Farm Bill reauthorized and updated both programs.

Signup for the 2019 crop year closes March 15, 2020. Producers who have not yet enrolled for 2019 can enroll for both 2019 and 2020 during the same visit to an FSA county office.

ARC and PLC have options for the farm operator who is actively farming the land as well as the owner of the land. Farm owners also have a one-time opportunity to update PLC payment yields beginning with crop year 2020. If the farm owner and producer visit the FSA county office together, FSA can also update yield information during that visit.

Farm Bill Informational Meetings – The Charles Mix County Farm Service Agency is planning informational meetings for Thursday, December 5 at 7:00 p.m., at the Duck Inn (VFW) in Lake Andes; Monday, December 9 at 7:00 p.m., at the Two Spurs in Wagner and Tuesday, December 10 at 7:00 p.m., at the 44 Pizza +(Pizza Ranch) in Platte. We will be discussing the details of the new Farm Program and all options available to farmers, ranchers, and landowners. All farmers and landowners are encouraged to attend.