ARC/PLC Program Workshop for Ag Producers Announced

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For assistance with fluctuations in commodity crop prices, producers can elect coverage and enroll in ARC-County or PLC on a crop-by-crop basis, or ARC-Individual for the entire farm, for the 2024 crop year. Elections must be submitted by March 15.

ARC/PLC Program Workshop for Ag Producers Announced

Nebraska USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) is reminding producers now is the time to make elections and enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2024 crop year. The signup period is open through Friday, March 15, 2024, and producers are encouraged to begin working with their USDA county Farm Service Agency (FSA) office to complete the process.

Producers can learn about the ARC and PLC options for 2024 during a series of workshops hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability (CAP) and Nebraska FSA that will be held across the state in February.

ARC and PLC are key USDA safety-net programs that help producers weather fluctuations in either revenue or price for certain crops.

“Safety-net programs like ARC and PLC are designed to help producers mitigate some of the financial stressors associated with crop production. I encourage farmers to evaluate their program elections and enroll for the 2024 crop year,” said Nebraska FSA Acting State Executive Director Tim Divis.

Brad Lubben, Nebraska Extension policy specialist, said changes in commodity crop prices over the past several years may influence producers’ ARC/PLC decision-making process for 2024.

“With the one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill, producers face a familiar choice between ARC and PLC for 2024, but under different circumstances now as compared to the past several years,” Lubben said. “Understanding the program mechanics and analysis will help producers make sound enrollment decisions with FSA.”

ARC provides income support payments on historical base acres when actual crop revenue declines below a specified guaranteed level. PLC provides income support payments on historical base acres when the effective price for a covered commodity falls below its effective reference price. Producers can elect coverage and enroll in ARC-County or PLC on a crop-by-crop basis, or ARC-Individual for the entire farm, for the 2024 crop year. Although election changes for 2024 are optional, enrollment (signed contract) is required for each year of the program. If a producer has a multi-year contract on the farm, it will be necessary to sign a new contract for the farm by the March 15 deadline if a 2024 election change is desired.

If an election is not submitted by the deadline of March 15, 2024, the election defaults to the current election for crops on the farm from the prior crop year.

Divis said all program participants are encouraged to review their previous program elections.

The meetings are free and open to the public.

Farm Bill Educational Workshops
City Date Time Location
Alliance Feb. 8 9 a.m.-noon Knight Museum, 908 Yellowstone Ave., Alliance, NE 69301
Auburn Feb. 7 1-4 p.m. ESU 4 Building, 2301 Dahlke Ave., Auburn, NE 68305
Beatrice Feb. 9 1-4 p.m. Nebraska Extension in Gage County, 1115 W. Scott St., Beatrice, NE 68310
Columbus Feb. 7 1-4 p.m. Columbus Community Building, 2500 14th St., Columbus, NE 68601
Gering Feb. 6 9 a.m.-noon Gering Civic Center, 1050 M St., Gering, NE 69341
Hastings Feb. 14 1-4 p.m. Adams County Extension Office, 2975 S. Baltimore Ave., Hastings, NE 68901
Holdrege Feb. 22 1-4 p.m. Phelps County Extension Office, 1308 Second St., Holdrege, NE 68949
Imperial Feb. 26 1-4 p.m. Lied Imperial Public Library, 703 Broadway St., Imperial, NE 69033
Mead Feb. 9 9 a.m.-noon Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center (ENREEC), 1071 Co. Rd. G, Ithaca, NE 68033
McCook Feb. 15 1-4 p.m. Community Building, Red Willow County Fairgrounds, 1412 W. Fifth St., McCook, NE 69001
Norfolk Feb. 20 9 a.m.-noon Madison County Extension Office, 1305 S 13th St., Norfolk, NE 68701
North Platte Feb. 21 1-4 p.m. West Central Research and Extension Center, 402 W. State Farm Rd., North Platte, NE 69101
O’Neill Feb. 15 1-4 p.m. Holt County Extension Office, 128 N. Sixth St., O'Neill, NE 68763-1661
Ord Feb. 20 1-4 p.m. Valley County Fairgrounds, 801 S St., Ord, NE 68862
Sidney Feb. 7 9 a.m.-noon Cheyenne County Fairgrounds, 10955 Lincoln Hwy, Sidney, NE 69162
Valentine Feb. 9 9 a.m.-noon Mid-Plains Community College, 715 US-20, Valentine, NE 69201
Wayne (2 sessions) Feb. 8 1-4 p.m. or 6-9 p.m. Wayne Fire Hall, 510 Tomar Dr., Wayne, NE 68787
West Point Feb. 13 9 a.m.-noon Nielsen Community Center, 200 Anna Stalp Ave., West Point, NE 68788
York Feb. 6 9 a.m.-noon Cornerstone Ag & Event Center, 2400 N. Nebraska Ave., York, NE 68467

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