Baton Rouge, La. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
announced that beginning today, October 4, 2016, many of the 1.7 million farms that enrolled in
either the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC)
programs will receive safety-net payments due to market downturns during the
2015 crop year.
"This fall, USDA will be making more than $7 billion in
payments under the ARC-County and PLC programs to assist participating
producers, which will account for over 10 percent of USDA's projected 2016 net
farm income. These payments will help provide reassurance to America's farm
families, who are standing strong against low commodity prices compounded by
unfavorable growing conditions in many parts of the country," said
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "At USDA, we are standing strong behind
them, tapping in to every resource that we have to help. So far in 2016, this
has included creating a one-time cost share program for cotton ginning,
purchasing about $800 million in excess commodities to be redirected to food
banks and those in need, making $11 million in payments to America's dairy
farmers through the Dairy Margin Protection Program, and reprogramming Farm
Service Agency funds to expand credit options for farmers and ranchers in need
of extra capital. As always, we continue to watch market conditions and will explore
opportunities for further assistance in the coming months. For producers
challenged by weather, disease and falling prices, we will continue to ensure
the availability of a strong safety net to keep them farming or ranching."
Nationwide, producers enrolled 96 percent of soybean base
acres, 91 percent of corn base acres and 66 percent of wheat base acres in the
ARC-County coverage option. Producers enrolled 99 percent of long grain rice
and peanut base acres and 94 percent of medium grain rice base acres in the PLC
option. Overall, 76 percent of participating farm base acres are enrolled in
ARC-County, 23 percent in PLC and one percent in ARC-Individual. For other
program information including frequently asked questions, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc.
The Budget Control Act of 2011, passed by Congress, requires
USDA to reduce 2015 ARC and PLC payments by 6.8 percent. For more information,
producers are encouraged to visit their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office.
To find a local FSA office, visit http://offices.usda.gov.
For more information, visit www.usda.gov/results.
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