Washington, D.C. (October 12, 2018) – Today, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue announced farm program payments for the 2017 crop year through the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) program and the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program, which were both created in the 2014 Farm Bill, have now gone out to producers. These safety net programs provide essential revenue and price support for farmers across the country. Approximately $3 billion in payments will be made under the ARC and PLC programs for the 2017 crop year, and approximately $1.8 billion in annual rental payments under CRP for 2018.
“The program payments being announced today will provide a needed cushion for farmers during these tough economic conditions in wheat country,” said NAWG President and Oklahoma wheat farmer Jimmie Musick. “Mother nature continues to be more and more unpredictable each year, demonstrating vital importance of a viable farm safety net. ARC and PLC are important safety net programs that help enable farmers to farm another year.”
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has posted maps on its website showing the payment rate ranges for wheat, corn, and soybeans through the ARC-County program, as well as revenue maps for those commodities. Those maps can be found at this link. As required by Congress in the Budget Control Act of 2011, all payments are reduced by 6.9 percent as part of sequestration requirements.
“NAWG also calls on Congress to act as soon as possible to reauthorize the farm bill so that producers can have certainty moving forward about the availability of these safety net programs,” said Musick.
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About NAWG
NAWG is the primary policy representative in Washington D.C. for wheat growers, working to ensure a better future for America’s growers, the industry and the general public. NAWG works with a team of 21 state wheat grower organizations to benefit the wheat industry at the national levels. From their offices in the Wheat Growers Building on Capitol Hill, NAWG’s staff members are in constant contact with state association representatives, NAWG grower leaders, Members of Congress, Congressional staff members, Administration officials and the public.