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 USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is encouraging producers to
contact Logan or Dewitt County FSA offices to make or change
elections and to enroll for 2023 ARC or PLC, providing future
protections against market fluctuations. The election and
enrollment period runs through March 15, 2023.
2023 Elections and Enrollment
Producers can elect coverage and enroll in ARC-CO or PLC, which
are both crop-by-crop, or ARC-IC, which is for the entire farm.
Although election changes for 2023 are optional, producers must
enroll through a signed contract each year. Also, if a producer
has a multi-year contract on the farm and makes an election
change for 2023, it will be necessary to sign a new contract.
If an election is not submitted by the deadline of March 15,
2023, the election remains the same as the 2022 election for
crops on the farm. Farm owners cannot enroll in either program
unless they have a share interest in the farm.
Covered commodities include barley, canola, large and small
chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils,
mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain
rice, medium and short grain rice, safflower seed, seed cotton,
sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed, and wheat.
Web-Based Decision Tools
In partnership with USDA, the University of Illinois and Texas
A&M University offer web-based decision tools to assist
producers in making informed, educated decisions using crop data
specific to their respective farming operations. Tools
include:
Gardner-farmdoc Payment Calculator, a tool available through
the University of Illinois allows producers to estimate payments
for farms and counties for ARC-CO and PLC.
ARC and PLC Decision Tool, a tool available through
Texas A&M tallows producers to estimate payments and yield
updates and expected payments for 2023.
Crop Insurance Considerations
ARC and PLC are part of a broader safety net provided by USDA,
which also includes crop insurance and marketing assistance
loans.
Producers are reminded that ARC and PLC elections and
enrollments can impact eligibility for some crop insurance
products.
Producers on farms with a PLC election have the option of
purchasing Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) through their
Approved Insurance Provider; however, producers on farms where
ARC is the election are ineligible for SCO on their planted
acres for that crop on that farm.
Unlike SCO, the Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) is unaffected by
an ARC election. Producers may add ECO regardless of the farm
program election.
Upland cotton farmers who choose to enroll seed cotton base
acres in ARC or PLC are ineligible for the stacked income
protection plan (STAX) on their planted cotton acres for that
farm.
More Information
For more information on ARC and PLC, visit the ARC
and PLC webpage or contact Logan County USDA Service Center
at 217-735-5508 ext. 2 or the Dewitt County USDA Service Center
at 217-935-2181 ext. 2 to enroll now.
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Beginning Farmer Loan Opportunity
Farm Loan Program
Accessing capital to begin, extend, or support an agriculture
operation can be especially challenging to new producers. Farm
Service Agency’s “Beginning Farmer” direct and guaranteed loan
programs provide an opportunity for qualified applicants to secure
loans from funding set aside for producers who meet the following
conditions:
Has operated a farm for not more than 10 years
Will materially and substantially participate in the operation of
the farm
Agrees to participate in a loan assessment,
borrower training and financial management program sponsored by FSA
Does not own a farm in excess of 30 percent of the
county’s average size farm.
For more information contact, contact Rachel Tester at 217-824-2123
or visit fsa.usda.gov.
Important Dates to Remember
February 20, 2023
Office Closed / Washington's Birthday
March 15, 2023
ARC/PLC Farm Program Signup Deadline
Ongoing
Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Signup
Ongoing
Farm Record Changes
Dewitt County SWCD Upcoming Events
New Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Resources Available
Farming and Construction Within the Footprint - The Dewitt County
SWCD would like to invite you to join them for breakfast Thursday,
February 2, 2023, at 8:00 a.m. This will be an informational safety
meeting for farmers, landowners, and contractors. Learn how to
safely maintain your farmland & underground systems within the
Dewitt County Alta Wind Farms Project Footprint. The meeting will be
held at the American Legion, 216 N. Elizabeth St., Clinton, IL
61727. To register call Dewitt County SWCD at 217-935-2181 ext 3 by
January 30, 2023.
The Dewitt County SWCD Annual Meeting and breakfast will be held on
Friday, February 17, 2023, at 8:00 a.m., check in begins at 7:30
a.m. featuring special speaker "The Shark Farmer," Rob Sharkey. Rob
has a wildly successful "Shark Farmer Podcast." Rob is also on
Sirius XM Radio with a daily show and on RFDTV with his "Shot of Ag"
program. Rob continues inspiring farmers and ranchers to push
through hard times and challenge themselves to try new things. The
meeting will be held at the Georgia Jill, 1520 E. South St.,
Clinton, IL 61727. To register call Dewitt County SWCD at
217-935-2181 ext 3 by February 10, 2023.
Be on the lookout for the Annual Fish Sale information on February
1, 2023.
[Logan & Dewitt USDA Service Center] |
