Farm Bill

Farm Bill Title 1 Enhanced Under Reconciliation: California Impacts

Farm Bill Title 1 Enhanced Under Reconciliation: California Impacts

In Congress’s budget reconciliation, signed on July 4 by President Trump, significant improvements were made to Title 1 of the Farm Bill, including:

  • Loan Rate – $7.70
  • Temperate Japonica Medium Grain Reference Price – $24.33
  • $155,000 Payment Limitation, increased from $125,000
  • These changes will be for the 2025 crop year through 2031
  • Starting in 2031, the reference price will rise automatically by 0.5% but cannot exceed 113% of the original reference price 
  • Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) guarantees 90 percent of the benchmark revenue and the payment band of 12 percent for crop years 2025 through 2031.

Notes to remember:

Growers can annually select ARC or PLC for their operation. All payments continue to be subject to a 5.7% sequestration. 

USA Rice 

The US rice industry was only able to achieve these results through collaborative work among all states. Great credit is due to USA Rice for their years-long work on improving the rice safety net and support of both Chairman GT Thompson and Senate Ag Committee Chair John Boozman.

Please find their comprehensive analysis here.

Next

The conservation title and other titles of the farm bill will be taken up by the House and Senate Ag committees in a skinny farm bill this fall. Bi-partisan work is expected.

rice harvest

Farm Bill in Focus

By Tyson Redpath, The Russell Group

This January, a new Republican majority arrives to the U.S. House of Representatives holding a four-vote majority which is identical to the current House Democratic majority. A flip to GOP control will have only modest policy impacts because the Senate majority will stay in Democratic hands. Meanwhile, the Biden Administration will continue to chart a course for rulemaking and Executive Order action for at least the next two years. 

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rice harvest

Reminder: ARC/PLC 2020 Signup Deadline Approaching

By Tyson Redpath, The Russell Group 

In the midst of a pandemic, the USDA is continuing to remind producers that 2020 enrollment for the ARC and PLC farm bill safety net programs is open now. Growers must enroll for 2020 by June 30. Growers are also reminded that they must make their one-time update to PLC payment yields by September 30. 

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Important Deadline coming for ARC and PLC Programs

Important Deadline coming for ARC and PLC Programs

By Tyson Redpath, The Russell Group 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds producers to enroll now in the Agriculture Risk (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. March 15 is the enrollment deadline for the 2019 crop year.  Until March 15, producers who have not yet enrolled in ARC or PLC for 2019 can enroll for both 2019 and 2020 during the same visit to an FSA county office unless yield updates are requested. Additionally, farm owners have a one-time opportunity to update PLC payment yields that take effect beginning with crop year 2020. If the owner accompanies the producer to the office, the yield update and enrollments may be completed during the same office visit. 

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Farm Bill Safety Net Programs Now Open for Enrollment

Farm Bill Safety Net Programs Now Open for Enrollment

By Tyson Redpath, The Russell Group 

The USDA has announced signup for the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) Program and the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) Program covering the 2019 and 2020 crop years. Updated by the 2018 Farm Bill, these revised safety net programs allow California rice growers to enroll and elect coverage in crop-by-crop ARC-County or PLC, or ARC-individual for the entire farm, for program year 2019. This election will apply for the 2019 and 2020 crop years.

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