News

Wisconsin farm bill meetings on now

The Farm Service Agency and the University of Wisconsin Extension are conducting meetings all across the state to help farmers understand the new farm programs. Susan Hunter with FSA says many of the Extension agents around the state have gone through training on the new Agricultural Risk Program (ARC) and Production Loss Coverage (PLC) programs.  FSA has a list of all of the meetings on their website by date or by county. (click on either)

The first thing that must be done is for producers/owners with crop basis to determine if they want to reallocate existing crop basis, increase yields based on production records or leave things as they are. That must be done by February 28^th so producers need to meet with FSA prior to that date.

The next step is to decide which program they want to participate in: ARC or PLC; that decision is due March 31^st.  This is a one-time selection which remains in place through 2018.  Actual enrollment will be on a yearly basis with the first sometime next summer.

The land owner makes the decision on the basis and yields. Farm operators make the decision on which program to participate in and enrollment each year will be done by the farm operator.

Hunter stresses the situation is different for each farm and farmer so it is imperative that producers attend a meeting and work with FSA to get things set up.  Hunter talks about the programs: