Landowners can review and increase base acres from June to August 2026
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has opened a new opportunity for eligible landowners to review and increase base acres on farms enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs. This update period begins on June 1 and continues until Aug. 31, 2026.
This initiative is part of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, signed into law in July 2025. It allows landowners to adjust base acres for the first time in more than two decades and prepare program enrollment starting in the 2026 crop year. Across the country, up to 30 million additional base acres may be added by eligible farms.
ARC and PLC programs play a key role in supporting farmers. They provide financial assistance when crop prices fall or farm revenue declines. These programs help farmers manage risks and maintain stable operations during difficult market and weather conditions.
“These base acre improvements will help strengthen the farm safety net for producers across the country and help them better manage risk by providing greater flexibility for operations that have expanded or diversified since the last time we revisited base allocations,” said Beam.
The Farm Service Agency has begun notifying eligible landowners by mail. Base Allocation Summaries will be available from June 1 through an online portal at fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc using a Login.gov account. Landowners can also contact their local FSA office to receive these summaries.
Farm operators are encouraged to work closely with landowners. Reviewing past planting data is important to ensure the accuracy of base acre calculations. All updates must be completed before the Aug. 31 deadline.
To qualify for new base acres, covered crops must have been planted or prevented from planting between 2019 and 2023. The average planted area must be higher than the farm’s existing base of acres. Total base acres must not exceed available on cropland.
This update provides farmers with a valuable opportunity to adjust their records and strengthen long-term financial protection for their operations.
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