Farmers Can Enroll in ARC and PLC Programs for 2026
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is opening enrollment for the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2026 crop year. The update follows the addition of more than 30 million new base acres, marking the largest expansion of the farm safety net in two decades.
Farmers can enroll for the 2026 crop year from September 16 through December 11, 2026. Enrollment for the 2027 crop year will begin on November 2, 2026, and continue through March 15, 2027.
The expanded acreage was made possible through recent legislation aimed at strengthening support for agricultural producers. Because requests for base acres exceeded the national limit of 30 million acres, USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) applied a nationwide reduction factor of 3.69% to all newly allocated base acres.
The base allocation review period ended on August 31, 2026. During that period, landowners could review records, correct information, designate additional eligible acres or choose not to add base acres. USDA confirmed that landowners did not lose existing base acres during the process.
“President Trump and Secretary Rollins are putting Farmers First by providing increased access to the farm safety net,” said Under Secretary Richard Fordyce. “In addition to expanded base acres, farmers now also have the opportunity to change their program election to best support the economic viability of their operations.”
Beginning September 16, landowners can access base allocation notifications online or through their local FSA office. These notifications will show the final allocation after the nationwide adjustment factor is applied.
Producers now have the opportunity to choose from several program options designed to help protect against market and revenue risks. ARC-County (ARC-CO) and PLC provide protection on a crop-by-crop basis, while ARC-Individual (ARC-IC) offers protection for the entire farming operation.
Although changing a program election for 2026 is optional, farmers must complete enrollment every year through a signed contract. Previous multi-year contracts ended in 2025. Producers now have the option of signing a new multi-year agreement that will remain in effect through 2031.
Farmers who do not submit a 2026 election by the December 11 deadline will automatically keep the same election they had in 2025. However, they will not be eligible to receive program payments for the 2026 crop year if enrollment is not completed.
Participation is available for a wide range of covered commodities, including corn, soybeans, wheat, barley, oats, grain sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, lentils, chickpeas, dry peas, canola, sesame, and several other crops grown across the United States.
To help producers make informed choices, several land-grant universities provide online decision tools. These tools allow farmers to compare potential benefits under ARC and PLC based on their own production and market conditions.
USDA also continues to improve flexibility within crop insurance and farm support programs. Farmers can now purchase Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) coverage or Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) regardless of whether they select ARC or PLC. Previous restrictions that prevented some producers from combining these programs have been removed.
There remains one important exception for cotton producers. Farmers who enroll seed cotton base acres in ARC or PLC cannot purchase Stacked Income Protection Plan (STAX) coverage on planted cotton acres for the same farm.
USDA encourages producers to review their options carefully and complete enrollment before the deadline. With expanded base acres, updated election opportunities and additional insurance flexibility, the programs provide important protection against market uncertainty and production risks.
The ARC and PLC programs remain key tools that help farmers maintain financial stability while managing the challenges of modern agricultural production.
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