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 Additionally,
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has started issuing payments
totaling more than $255 million to producers with 2021 crops
that have triggered payments through ARC or PLC.
2023 Elections and Enrollment
Producers can elect coverage and enroll in ARC-County
(ARC-CO) or PLC, which provide crop-by-crop protection, or
ARC-Individual (ARC-IC), which protects 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, they must sign a new contract.
If producers do not submit their election by the March 15, 2023,
deadline, their election remains the same as their 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 that allows producers to obtain basic information regarding
the decision and factors that should be taken into consideration
such as future commodity prices and historic yields to estimate
payments for 2022.
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.
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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 FSA Office at 217-735-5505 ext 2
or Dewitt County FSA Office at 217-935-2181 ext 2.
Update Your Records
FSA is cleaning up our producer record database and needs your help.
Please report any changes of address, zip code, phone number, email
address or an incorrect name or business name on file to our office.
You should also report changes in your farm operation, like the
addition of a farm by lease or purchase. You should also report any
changes to your operation in which you reorganize to form a Trust,
LLC or other legal entity.
FSA and NRCS program participants are required to promptly report
changes in their farming operation to the County Committee in
writing and to update their Farm Operating Plan on form CCC-902.
To update your records, contact your county office.
Beginning Farmer Loan Opportunity
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:
o Has operated a farm for not more than 10 years
o Will materially and substantially participate in the operation of
the farm
o Agrees to participate in a loan assessment, borrower training and
financial management program sponsored by FSA
o Does not own a farm in excess of 30 percent of the county’s
average size farm.
For more information contact, Rachel Tester at 217-824-2123 or visit
fsa.usda.gov.
[Logan & Dewitt USDA Service Center] |
