By Blake Jackson
Agricultural producers in Pennsylvania have until April 15, 2025, to enroll or revise their elections for the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2025 crop year.
These programs, administered by the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), are designed to provide essential income support to farmers facing significant declines in crop prices or revenues.
As of now, Pennsylvania producers have completed 23,141 contracts, representing 76% of the expected 30,292 contracts. “Agriculture Risk Coverage or Price Loss Coverage programs provide excellent risk protection, for market declines, at no cost to the producer,” said Dan Smeal, deputy state executive director for FSA in Pennsylvania. “If you haven’t made your program election or signed a contract, please contact your local FSA county office as soon as possible to set an appointment so you don’t miss the April 15 deadline.”
Producers can choose between ARC-County or PLC, which offer crop-specific protection, and ARC-Individual, which covers the entire farm.
While election changes for 2025 are optional, enrollment with a signed contract is required annually. Existing multi-year contracts will continue for 2025 unless producers opt to make changes.
Failure to submit election revisions by the April 15, 2025, deadline will result in the continuation of 2024 elections for eligible commodities.
Similarly, producers who do not complete enrollment and sign their contracts by the deadline will be ineligible for ARC or PLC benefits in 2025. Farm owners can only enroll if they hold a share interest in the commodity.
Eligible commodities for enrollment include barley, canola, chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, rice, safflower seed, seed cotton, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed, and wheat.
Photo Credit: usda-farm-service-agency
Categories: Pennsylvania, Government & Policy