2026 Farm Bill Commodity Program Decisions - What Fits Your Farm?

After an eight-month delay, farm managers can once again look to choose between Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Agricultural Loss Coverage (ARC) for the 2026 production year.  The new sign-up period opened on September 16 and will run through harvest before ending on December 11.

Deciding which program will offer the best risk protection for your farm can seem a bit complex outside of harvest time. However, program sign-up during harvest offers a rare insight into actual yield data, which may change your program choice. To aid you in making your Farm Bill decision, MSU Extension will be hosting a webinar program to walk through decision options. Speakers will also provide Farm Bill related updates on topics such as insurance, commodity programs, and more.

The webinar will be held on Thursday, November 5 at 1:00 PM and focuses on corn, soybeans, and wheat crops. Participants are encouraged to attend this session in order to better understand Farm Bill commodity program options.

MSU Extension experts will walk through the decision between Price Loss Coverage and Agricultural Risk Coverage program options. ARC-CO provides revenue-based payments (yield x price) when farm revenue falls below a “coverage guarantee” level. The PLC program provides price-based payments when prices are less than a “reference price.”

Updated for the 2026 production season, the MSU Farm Bill Analyzer decision tool will be highlighted during the webinar sessions. Available today for download, the analyzer helps showcase which programs may produce the most benefits for a producer’s individual needs. Using the decision tool, speakers will examine potential risk scenarios you may experience in 2026.

Participation in the Farm Bill webinar is free, but registration is required. For more information, contact Jonathan LaPorte at (269) 944-4126 or laportej@msu.edu. 

For the latest information on the Farm Bill, also visit the MSU Farm Bill website.