What are ARC and PLC?
Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage are FSA programs for covered commodities. Both tie payments to base acres and historical yields, not to what you plant in a given year. PLC pays when a national price falls below a reference level. ARC pays when revenue falls below a benchmark, at the county or farm level depending on the option.
Farmers.gov and FSA publish fact sheets and online tools. Current reference prices, payment limits and deadlines come from those pages, so read them before deciding.
Base acres are tied to the farm's history, so when land changes hands or is rented, ask FSA how base acres, yields and payments are handled between owner and operator.
How do I choose between them?
The choice depends on price expectations, yield patterns and your county's history. Land-grant universities publish decision tools and commentary that compare outcomes under different price paths. Use two or three sources rather than one.
Be clear about the question you are answering: which program is more likely to pay on your base acres, given your own expectations. Then keep a note of why you chose, for next year's decision.
Run your numbers early. Decision deadlines come up quickly after the new year starts, and last-minute choices tend to rest on whatever you heard most recently. A useful habit is to write down the three numbers that drove your choice, such as expected price, expected yield and your county's recent history, and then compare them with what actually happened. After a few years you will see whether your assumptions run optimistic or cautious.
How does crop insurance fit alongside these programs?
Crop insurance is sold by private agents and backed by RMA. It protects yield, revenue or both for the crop you actually plant and is separate from ARC and PLC. Many growers use both, and lenders often expect it.
Ask your agent about coverage levels, premium subsidies, sales closing dates and what records you need. Production history is the foundation of most policies.
Ask about prevented planting, replant provisions and how different coverage levels change your out-of-pocket exposure in a poor year.
What do I need to keep on file with FSA?
Each year, report acres planted and intended uses on the required forms, by the deadline for each crop. Keep lease agreements, ownership documents and entity records current. Landowners and operators both have roles in signup.
Missing acreage reports can affect program eligibility and some loans. Write the deadlines on a calendar early in the year.
If you farm rented ground, talk with each landlord about who signs what and who receives program payments. Written agreements that match what you tell FSA prevent disputes later, especially when a lease changes hands or a landowner passes away. Ask the office which signatures are required so nobody has to make a second trip.
- Acreage report by the crop deadline
- Current lease and ownership records
- Entity and signature authority
- Farm number and tract information
What other USDA help do row crop farms use?
FSA loans finance operating costs, equipment and land. Storage facility loans help with bins and handling equipment. NRCS offers conservation practices such as cover crops, no-till support and nutrient management. Marketing assistance loans exist for certain commodities.
Each program has its own eligibility and limits. Ask each office what applies to your crops and acres.
Conservation compliance rules can apply to farmers who take part in certain USDA programs. Ask NRCS what applies to your fields, especially highly erodible land and wetlands.
What mistakes should row crop farmers avoid?
Do not assume last year's choice still fits. Do not rely on neighbors for payment limit or entity questions, since structure matters. Do not skip the acreage report because a payment seems unlikely, because compliance can affect other benefits.
Finally, share your choices with your lender, who may count expected payments in your cash flow plan.
- Repeating last year's choice without a review
- Skipping the acreage report
- Ignoring conservation compliance
- Not telling the lender about program choices
What does an annual program calendar look like?
Build a simple calendar: enrollment decisions for commodity programs, crop insurance sales closing dates, acreage reporting dates, and loan renewal dates. Each agency publishes its own dates, and they differ by crop and state.
Add a recurring reminder for a yearly review with your lender and insurance agent. Fifteen minutes with each, before planting, is cheaper than discovering a missed date afterward.
- Commodity program enrollment
- Crop insurance sales closing
- Acreage reporting
- Loan renewal and lender review
Key takeaways
- ARC and PLC follow base acres and history, not this year's planting.
- Compare decision tools from FSA and university extension before choosing.
- Crop insurance is separate and protects what you actually plant.
- File acreage reports on time and keep entity and lease records current.
Sources and official links
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Money & Grants Editorial Team. Educational only, not tax, legal or financial advice. See our editorial policy.