Producers are reminded that the deadline to update yield history and/or reallocate base acres is Feb. 27, 2015. Farm owners and producers can choose between the new 2014 Farm Bill established programs, Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) through March 31, 2015. The new programs, designed to help producers better manage risk, usher in one of the most significant reforms to U.S. farm programs in decades. 

USDA helped create online tools to assist in the decision process, allowing farm owners and producers to enter information about their operation and see projections that show what ARC and/or PLC will mean for them under possible future scenarios. Farm owners and producers can access the online resources, available at www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc, from the convenience of their home computer or mobile device at any time.

Covered commodities include barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium grain rice (which includes short grain rice), safflower seed, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat. Upland cotton is no longer a covered commodity.

Dates associated with ARC and PLC that farm owners and producers need to know:

  • Now through Feb. 27, 2015: Farm owners may visit their local Farm Service Agency office to update yield history and/or reallocate base acres.
  • Now through March 31, 2015: Producers make a one-time election between ARC and PLC for the 2014 through 2018 crop years.
  • Mid-April 2015 through summer 2015: Producers sign contracts for 2014 and 2015 crop years.
  • October 2015: Payments issued for 2014 crop year, if needed.To learn more about which safety net options are most appropriate for specific farming operations, farmers can use new Web tools atwww.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc, which can be accessed from the convenience of a home computer or a mobile device at any time. To learn more about upcoming educational meetings, farmers can contact their local Farm Service Agency county office athttp://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app.

To learn more about which safety net options are most appropriate for specific farming operations, farmers can use new Web tools atwww.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc, which can be accessed from the convenience of a home computer or a mobile device at any time. To learn more about upcoming educational meetings, farmers can contact their local Farm Service Agency county office at http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app.

Austin/Washington County FSA Office

520 South Front St.
Bellville, Texas 77418

Phone: 979-865-3138 x2

Farm Program
Fax: 1-844-496-7088

Farm Loan
Fax: 1-844-206-7556

County Executive Director:
Steven Pawelek[email protected]

Farm Loan Manager:
Irby McWilliams
[email protected]

Phone: 979-865-3138 x2

Farm Loan Officer:
Linda Buro
[email protected]

Program Technicians:
Cindy A. Johnson
Linda Hobratschk
Jenise Moszkowicz
Jennifer Cochran
Sharon Rosenauer
Jordyn Lara

County Committee:
Mark Schonefeld, Chairperson
Douglas Marek, Vice Chairperson
Fred Luhn, Member
James Lehmann, Member
Marcia Shelton, Advisor

COC Regular Meetings are scheduled to be held every 3rdThursday of the month starting at8:00am in the Bellville Service Center