You can enroll for ag risk coverage and price loss coverage

Agricultural producers can now make elections and enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2021 crop year. These key U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) safety-net programs help producers weather fluctuations in either revenue or price for certain crops, and more than $5 billion in payments are in the process of going out to producers who signed up for the 2019 crop year. Enrollment for the 2021 crop year closes March 15. ARC provides income support payments on historical base acres when actual crop revenue declines below a specified guaranteed level. PLC provides income support payments on historical base acres when the effective price for a covered commodity falls below its reference price. 2021 Elections and Enrollment Producers can elect coverage and enroll in crop-by-crop ARC-County or PLC, or ARC-Individual for the entire farm, for the 2021 crop year. Although election changes for 2021 are optional, enrollment (signed contract) is required for each year of the program. If a producer has a multi-year contract on the farm and makes an election change for 2021, it will be necessary to sign a new contract. If an election is not submitted by the deadline of March 15, the election defaults to the current election for crops on the farm from the prior crop year. For crop years 2022 and 2023, producers will have an opportunity to make new elections during those signups. Farm owners cannot enroll in either program unless they have a share interest in the farm. Web-Based Decision Tools In partnership with USDA, the University of Illinois and Texas A&M University offer web-based decision tools to assist producers in making informed, educated decisions using crop data specific to their respective farming operations. Tools include: • Gardner-farmdoc Payment Calculator, the University of Illinois tool that offers farmers the ability to run payment estimate modeling for their farms and counties for ARC-County and PLC. • ARC and PLC Decision Tool, the Texas A&M tool allows producers to analyze payment yield updates and expected payments for 2021. Producers who have used the tool in the past should see their username and much of their farm data already available in the system. Apply Now for USDA's Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 — Application Deadline is Dec. 11 The USDA FSA reminds farmers that the deadline to apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) is Dec. 11. This program provides direct relief to producers who continue to face market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19. CFAP 2 will provide up to $14 billion to eligible producers of certain row crops, livestock, dairy, specialty crops, aquaculture and more. All eligible commodities, payment rates and calculations can be found on farmers.gov/cfap. CFAP 2 is a separate program from the first iteration of the program (CFAP 1) and interested producers must complete a new application to be eligible for payment for CFAP 2. Customers seeking one-on-one support with the CFAP 2 application process can call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer general assistance. This is a recommended first step before a producer engages the team at the FSA county office. Application Options Producers have several options for applying to the CFAP 2 program by the Dec. 11 deadline: • Using an online portal at gov/cfap. This allows producers with secure USDA login credentials, known as eAuthentication, to certify eligible commodities online, digitally sign applications and submit directly to the local USDA Service Center. Completing the application form using our CFAP 2 Application Generator and Payment Calculator found at gov/cfap. 2021 Reporting of Fall Seeded Crops All producers are reminded that the acreage reporting date for fall seeded crops has changed and the acreage reporting date is Dec. 15, 2020. This applies to all fall seeded crops including fall barley, fall wheat and all other fall-seeded small grains. Please call to report and certify your crops. Dates to Remember Nov. 20 — Last day to apply for coverage for asparagus, blueberries, caneberries, cherries, chestnuts, forage for hay and pasture, grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, plums, strawberries, honey, hops and maple syrup. Nov. 26 — Thanksgiving Day Holiday. FSA offices closed. Dec. 7 — Last day to return voted Ballots in county committee election. Dec. 11 — Election period deadline for 2021 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program. Dec. 11 — Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) application deadline. Dec. 15 — Deadline to report the 2021 Fall Seeded Crops for fall barley, fall wheat and all other fall-seeded small grains. FROM THE HURON/ERIE COUNTY FARM SERVICE AGENCY AGRI-BUSINESS NOTES FOR THE HURON AND ERIE COUNTY PRODUCERS.