By Scout Nelson
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has extended the enrollment and election deadline for the 2026 crop year under the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs until December 11, 2026. The extension gives producers additional time to evaluate harvest results, commodity prices and farm-specific information before making their program selection.
ARC and PLC serve as key federal farm safety net programs that help protect producers against revenue losses and declining commodity prices. Farmers can choose either ARC-County or PLC on a crop-by-crop basis and may make different elections for separate FSA farm numbers to better align with their operational needs.
Robin Reid, an agricultural economist with Kansas State University (K-State) Extension, said that local growing conditions play an important role when comparing the two programs. In areas affected by drought or lower-than-average county yields, ARC may offer advantages because it is based on revenue performance rather than solely commodity prices.
Reid noted that ARC can be more beneficial when weather challenges reduce countywide production and revenue. However, in counties where yields remain strong, PLC may become a more attractive option because ARC generally requires lower commodity prices before payments are triggered.
Since payment outcomes can vary widely between farms, producers are encouraged to evaluate their individual circumstances carefully. Established FSA program yields can significantly influence potential PLC payments, making farm-level analysis an important step in the decision-making process.
To assist producers, the Kansas State University Department of Agricultural Economics has developed an online ARC/PLC payment estimator. The tool allows farmers to compare potential payments under different commodity price scenarios and assess how each program may perform based on their specific operation.
Farmers should also keep in mind that payments for the 2025 crop year are expected to begin in October 2026. These payments may provide additional insight into the performance of both programs under current market and production conditions.
Recent policy changes are also shaping enrollment decisions. Under provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, producers will receive whichever payment is higher between ARC and PLC for a given crop year, regardless of the program they originally selected. The change is intended to strengthen financial protection for farmers during periods of market and production uncertainty.
Looking ahead, the enrollment and election period for the 2027 crop year will begin on November 2, 2026, and continue through March 15, 2027. With the extended deadline in place, producers have additional time to review their harvest performance, market conditions and available decision-making tools before selecting the program that best fits their operation.
Photo Credit: usda-farm-service-agency
Categories: Kansas, Crops, Government & Policy