USDA issues largest-ever ARC and PLC payments for 2025 crops

The USDA will distribute about $13.8 billion in gross payments through the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs for the 2025 crop year. This is the biggest annual payout since the programs were established in the 2014 Farm Bill, following changes from the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. Sixteen crops qualified for PLC payments, and enrollment for 2026 coverage is now open.

The Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs were created in the 2014 Farm Bill. For 2025, the USDA says gross payments will total about $13.8 billion, the highest annual figure in program history. The Working Families Tax Cuts Act, signed in July, changed reference prices and the effective reference price formula beginning with that crop year.

Sixteen commodities qualified for PLC payments, including corn, soybeans, wheat, peanuts, rice classes, chickpeas, canola, and lentils. ARC-County aid depends on county-level revenue. The $13.8 billion figure does not reflect payment-limit reductions or the 5.7 percent sequestration. For 2025, producers receive the higher of ARC or PLC regardless of election. The combined cap rose to $155,000 and is indexed; the 2025 limit is $160,000. 2026 signup is open.

Count words. First para: The(1) Agriculture2 Risk3 Coverage4 and5 Price6 Loss7 Coverage8 programs9 were10 created11 in12 the13 2014 Farm14 Bill15. For16 2025,17 the18 USDA19 says20 gross21 payments22 will23 total24 about25 $13.826 billion27, the28 highest29 annual30 figure31 in32 program33 history34. The35 Working36 Families37 Tax38 Cuts39 Act40, signed41 in42 July43, changed44 reference45 prices46 and47 the48 effective49 reference50 price51 formula52 beginning53 with54 that55 crop56 year57.

Second: Sixteen58 commodities59 qualified60 for61 PLC62 payments63, including64 corn65, soybeans66, wheat67, peanuts68, rice69 classes70, chickpeas71, canola72, and73 lentils7