Enrollment deadline approaching on USDA's ARC and PLC programs

From Farm Service Agency

BOZEMAN — U.S. Department of Agriculture Montana Farm Service Agency Acting State Executive Director Amy Webbink has reminded farmers and ranchers that they have until Aug. 1 to enroll in Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs for the 2017 crop year.

These programs trigger financial protections for participating agricultural producers when market forces cause substantial drops in crop prices or revenues.

“Producers have already elected ARC or PLC, but to receive program benefits they must enroll for the 2017 crop year by signing a contract before the Aug. 1 deadline,” Webbink said. “Please contact your local FSA office to schedule an appointment if you have not yet enrolled.”

The programs were created in the 2014 Farm Bill, replacing the direct and counter-cyclical and ACRE programs that previously were in place.

Covered commodities under the programs include barley; canola; large and small chickpeas; corn; crambe; flaxseed; grain sorghum; lentils; mustard seed; oats; peanuts; dry peas; rapeseed; long grain rice; medium grain rice, which includes short grain and sweet rice; safflower seed; sesame; soybeans, sunflower seed, and wheat.

For more program information, people can contact their local FSA office or visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc and http://www.fsa.usda.gov/mt. To find a local FSA office, people can visit http://offices.usda.gov online.