The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the enrollment periods for its key safety-net programs for 2025. Farmers can apply for the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs from January 21 to April 15 and for Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) from January 29 to March 31. These programs provide critical financial protections to farmers against market volatility, helping stabilize revenues and offset price differences for crops and dairy production. USDA encourages producers to contact their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices early to ensure timely enrollment.
Key Coverage Points:
- Enrollment Dates:
- ARC and PLC: January 21 – April 15, 2025
- DMC: January 29 – March 31, 2025
- Program Benefits:
- ARC/PLC: Protects against significant drops in crop prices or revenues. Producers can choose ARC-County, PLC for crop-specific coverage, or ARC-Individual for entire farm protection.
- DMC: Offers price protection to dairy producers when milk and feed price margins fall below selected levels.
- Election Requirements:
- Producers must sign a new contract annually, even if they don’t make changes to their program elections.
- Additional Features:
- ARC/PLC participation may affect eligibility for crop insurance options like Supplemental Coverage Option and STAX (for cotton producers).
- DMC uses updated feed cost calculations, reflecting actual expenses, including 100% premium alfalfa hay.
Quote:
“Our safety-net programs provide critical financial protections against commodity market volatilities for many American farmers, so don’t delay enrollment,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux.
Resources:
Producers can apply at their local USDA Service Centers or visit the program-specific web pages for more details:
- ARC/PLC: ARC and PLC webpage
- DMC: DMC webpage
The USDA continues to support farmers, ranchers, and rural communities, advancing sustainable practices, fairer markets, and equitable access to resources.
