Landowners have until Monday, August 31, to finalize their decisions on new base acres for USDA safety-net programs such as Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage.
Thirty million new base acres are now available under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, extending the provisions of Ag Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage (ARC & PLC). Wisconsin Farm Service Agency Executive Director Sandy Chalmers says Monday is the final chance to ask questions or opt out.
“We sent out notices to the landowners earlier this summer because the base is tied to the land,” Chalmers says. “It’s really important for farmers and landowners to have some communication between them, because typically, the farmers are the ones that keep the records on what’s been planted, and the landowner may not have access to that information to double-check against what we sent them.”
Most Landowners & Farmers Approve
Chalmers says, “We’ve had few, if any, landowners object, ask questions, or opt out of the additional base because it’s obviously a benefit to the land and to the operator of the farm, but just be aware that the deadline is coming up.”
The initial letters sparked many conversations, Chalmers told Mid-West Farm Report, prompting numerous landowners to call local FSA offices to learn more.
Another Change, Another Deadline
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act also altered payment limitations for S-corporations and LLCs. Chalmers notes family farms with multiple members frequently use these structures. The update allows these businesses to receive multiple payments, treating them the same as other business types.
To take advantage of these multiple payments, members of an S-corporation or LLC must file an updated farm operation plan at their local FSA office by September 15th.
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