News

USDA extends safety net program sign-up

Earlier today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack provided farm owners with an additional week to make their safety net program selection and update their yield history and base acres.

USDA Farm Service Agency administrator Val Dolcini says these programs are important decision for producers.  “These programs help protect farmers from unexpected changes in the marketplace,” he says.  “Thus far, we’ve seen about 98 percent of owners update yields and base acres and about 90 percent of producers have enrolled in ARC or PLC.”

Dolcini explains what happens if producers don’t update their information before the new deadline.  “The farm’s current yield and base acres will be used,” he says.  “And if no program choice is made between ARC and PLC, there will be no 2014 crop year payments for the farm and the farm will default to PLC coverage for the balance of the farm bill.”

The new deadline is Tuesday, April 7, 2015.