Mike Strain Commissioner | Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry
Mike Strain Commissioner | Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry
Agricultural producers need to act by April 15, 2025, to enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2025 crop year. These programs, managed by the USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA), are designed to support farmers financially when crop prices or revenues fall significantly. In Louisiana, around 70% of expected contracts are in place with 11,298 contracts already completed out of the anticipated 16,041.
Dewanna Pitman, deputy state executive director for FSA in Louisiana, emphasized the importance of these programs, stating, "Agriculture Risk Coverage or Price Loss Coverage programs provide excellent risk protection, for market declines, at no cost to the producer." Producers yet to enroll are urged to contact their local FSA county office promptly to schedule an appointment before the deadline.
Options available to producers include ARC-County or PLC for individual crop protection and ARC-Individual for entire farm coverage. While election changes for 2025 are not mandatory, yearly enrollment with a signed contract is required. Multi-year contract holders will have their contracts continue into 2025 unless they make a change to their election. Missing the April 15 deadline means producers will stick with their 2024 election, and failing to enroll results in no program participation for 2025.
The eligible crops for enrollment cover a variety of commodities, such as wheat, barley, corn, soybeans, and cotton, among others. The USDA urges producers to utilize web-based tools from universities, like LSU AgCenter, to support their decisions related to ARC and PLC elections.
Participating in ARC or PLC can influence eligibility for crop insurance products. While the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) is available for PLC participants, ARC enrollees cannot opt for SCO on their planted acres. However, the Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) remains unaffected by ARC enrollment, allowing producers to select it without restrictions due to their farm program choice. For upland cotton farmers, enrolling seed cotton base acres in ARC or PLC excludes them from the stacked income protection plan, or STAX.
FSA encourages producers visiting their offices for ARC or PLC matters to handle additional business such as farm loan applications and the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP). ECAP applications, open since March 19, 2025, offer up to $10 billion in relief as per the American Relief Act, 2025, catering to additional expenses and dropping commodity prices for the 2024 crop year. ECAP applications have an August 15, 2025, deadline.
Further support details from the American Relief Act, 2025, are expected. This includes over $20 billion to assist those facing losses due to 2023 and 2024 natural disasters, with $2 billion earmarked for livestock producers.
Producers with questions should contact their local USDA Service Center. USDA provides comprehensive support through its programs to help American farmers and ranchers manage and improve their agricultural ventures.
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