The clock is ticking… March 16, 2020 is THE LAST day to make what is likely one of the most important business decisions you will make for your farming operation this year.

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Op-Ed: Mission Critical! Contact USDA Farm Service Agency Now to Enroll in Key Safety Net Programs – Don’t Let the March 16 Deadline Pass You By

By William J. Graff, State Executive Director at Illinois, USDA Farm Service Agency

The clock is ticking… March 16, 2020 is THE LAST day to make what is likely one of the most important business decisions you will make for your farming operation this year.

If you have not already visited your local Farm Service Agency (FSA) county office to make your election for either the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program and to sign your annual enrollment contract, you should call and make your appointment now.

Many of you are gearing up for spring fieldwork, but I cannot stress enough the importance of not letting this deadline get lost in the hectic day-to-day obligations of farm life. If you fail to elect and enroll for 2019 ARC or PLC, you will be ineligible to receive a payment for the 2019 crop year.

ARC and PLC provide financial protections to farmers from substantial drops in crop prices or revenues and are vital economic safety nets for most American farms. These programs cover 20 commodities produced in the U.S.

FSA anticipates more than 1.7 million producers will enroll in ARC or PLC - that’s a lot of producers to assist in a short period of time. As of Feb. 2, 2020, FSA records in Illinois show 33,000 farms out of an expected 161,00 farms have completed ARC or PLC enrollment for the 2019 crop year.

If you’re still unsure about the choice of ARC or PLC, we offer online decision tools to help you determine the best program election for your farming operation. To access these tools, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc.

Call FSA today for an appointment. To locate your local FSA office, visit farmers.gov/service-center-locator.

We know that time is money… so make the time to avoid losing the money.

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