Minnesota USDA Farm Service Agency and the University of Minnesota Extension to Hold Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Election Webinar on Jan. 12

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Minnesota is holding a public Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) webinar with the University of Minnesota Extension on Jan. 12, 2021. Farmers and others involved in agriculture will have an opportunity to learn more about the ARC/PLC programs and factors to consider when making program elections for the 2021 crop year.

The ARC and PLC programs provide financial protections to farmers from substantial drops in crop prices or revenues and are vital economic safety nets for most American farms. Producers can elect coverage and enroll in crop-by-crop ARC-County or PLC, or ARC-Individual for the entire farm, for the 2021 crop year. Although election changes for 2021 are optional, enrollment (signed contract) is required for each year of the program. If a producer has a multi-year contract on the farm and makes an election change for 2021, it will be necessary to sign a new contract. The webinar will highlight program information and review coverage options.

You can join the Minnesota FSA and University of Minnesota Extension ARC/PLC webinar through the following link:

Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2:00 p.m. (CST) ARC/PLC Webinar for Minnesota

Click HERE to join the Jan. 12, 2 p.m. Minnesota Webinar

Participants can register in advance at z.umn.edu/farmbill2021, participants can also register at the time of the webinar. Additionally, the webinar will be recorded and posted for future viewing.

Persons with disabilities who require accommodations to participate in this meeting should contact Daniel Mahoney at (651) 602-7710, or Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339, and daniel.mahoney@usda.gov by January 5, 2021.

FSA is currently accepting applications for ARC/PLC enrollment through March 15, 2021. To learn more about ARC/PLC visit farmers.gov/arc-plc or contact your local USDA Service Center.

In partnership with USDA, the University of Illinois and Texas A&M University offer web-based decision tools to assist producers in making informed, educated decisions using crop data specific to their respective farming operations. Tools include:

Gardner-farmdoc Payment Calculator, the University of Illinois tool that offers farmers the ability to run payment estimate modeling for their farms and counties for ARC-County and PLC.
ARC and PLC Decision Tool, the Texas A&M tool allows producers to analyze payment yield updates and expected payments for 2021. Producers who have used the tool in the past should see their username and much of their farm data already available in the system.
All USDA Service Centers are open for business, including some that are open to visitors to conduct business in person by appointment only. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with the FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or any other Service Center agency should call ahead and schedule an appointment. Service Centers that are open for appointments will pre-screen visitors based on health concerns or recent travel, and visitors must adhere to social distancing guidelines. Visitors are required to wear a face covering during their appointment. Field work will continue with appropriate social distancing. Our program delivery staff will be in the office, and they will be working with our producers in office, by phone, and using online tools. More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.