USDA safety-net programs see record enrollment

April 22, 2020 01:46 PM

The USDA reported that producers signed a record number of contracts for the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs in the 2019 crop year. With 1.77 million people total enrolling, it an increase of 107 percent compared to the 5-year average.

“Producers for several years have experienced low commodity prices, a volatile trade environment and catastrophic natural disasters,” said Richard Fordyce, Administrator of USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). “Farmers looking to mitigate these risks recognize that ARC and PLC provide the financial protections they need to weather substantial drops in crop prices or revenues.”

FSA believes much of the participation spike came from increased interest under the 2018 Farm Bill as well as an increased number of eligible farms.

The deadline for 2020 is June 30 and producers must make their one-time update to PLC payment yields by by September 30.

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