By Jamie Martin
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a new opportunity for farmers and landowners to review and increase base acres under the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs. The review period runs from June 1 through Aug. 31, 2026.
This update is supported by provisions under a federal law passed in 2025. It gives landowners the ability to revise their base acres for the first time since 2002. The update will help farmers prepare for program participation in the 2026 crop year and beyond.
ARC and PLC programs are important tools for farmers. They provide financial protection during times of low crop prices or reduced farm revenue. These programs help stabilize farm income and support long-term sustainability.
“This is the first chance to add base acres since 2002. President Trump and Secretary Rollins continue to put Farmers First by ensuring USDA programs help producers protect their operations for generations to come,” said FSA Administrator Bill Beam.
“These base acre improvements will help strengthen the farm safety net for producers across the country and help them better manage risk by providing greater flexibility for operations that have expanded or diversified since the last time we revisited base allocations,” said Beam.
Eligible landowners will receive notifications from the Farm Service Agency. Base Allocation Summaries will be available online at fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc and at local FSA offices starting June 1. These summaries provide details on possible updates and must be reviewed before the Aug. 31 deadline.
Farmers are advised to work together with landowners and review planting records from recent years. Accurate data will help ensure correct base acre calculations and avoid delays.
Eligibility depends on crop planting history between 2019 and 2023. Farms must show that average planted acres are greater than their current base of acres. Total base acres must also remain within available cropland limits.
This program update gives farmers greater flexibility to reflect changes in their operations and improve access to federal support programs for future production years.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: National