USDA Details Major ARC & PLC Base Acre Update

USDA is beginning the largest expansion of commodity program base acres in more than two decades. The addition of 30 million acres eligible for Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage is expected to increase support for farmers nationwide. USDA Undersecretary Richard Fordyce explains how the new acres were calculated and which regions stand to benefit the most.

Fordyce says some states saw particularly large gains because of major changes in cropping patterns over the last 20 years.

Because this is the first base-acre update in decades, Fordyce says several organizations are expected to study the effect on farm profitability and rural economies.

He reminds producers that the 30 million new base acres will first apply to the 2026 crop, not the ARC and PLC payments scheduled to go out this October. If you’ve got questions, reach out to your local FSA office or crop insurance agent.