Finding Your Way Through Farm Bill Programs

Photo Credit: USDA

With the mid-term elections behind us it’s time to start thinking ahead to the next election. No, I don’t mean Presidential candidates; I’m talking farm program elections. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has begun rolling out new crop programs from the 2014 Farm Bill, and farmers, as well as land owners, will have some critical decisions to make over the next couple months. Below is a basic timeline that has been released by the Farm Service Agency (FSA):

Now, if you’re unsure whether to update or reallocation, or if all the new acronyms (ARC-CO, ARC-IC, PLC, SCO) make your head spin, you’re in luck. Iowa Corn has put together a website full of resources and tools specifically tailored to help producers navigate through all of these decisions. To access that information, check out our “Farm Bill Resources” webpage.

Looking for even more information? We’ve got you covered there too. Iowa State University Extension has partnered with USDA, Iowa Corn, and Farm Credit Services of America to provide free informational meetings across the state. These meetings will include a discussion of new risk coverage programs, and demonstrations of new tools to aid producers when choosing which program is best for their farm. Check out the ISU Extension webpage to find the informational meeting(s) in your county.

Can’t make it to your local Farm Bill informational meeting? Don’t worry; there are plenty of educational resources that you can access from the comfort of your own home. ISU Extension has put together some great YouTube videos that explain the basic framework of these new programs and what to consider when making farm program decisions for your operation. Additionally, the University of Illinois held webinars every Friday throughout the month of October providing information about these programs. These free hour-long webinar videos are available online for producers to view at their convenience.

Still have unanswered questions? Reach out to your local Farm Service Agency (FSA) Office, or contact a member of your Iowa Corn Government Relations team. Happy Electing!

My name is Elizabeth Burns-Thompson, Government Relations Manager here at Iowa Corn, and the author of this post. I was born and raised on a diversified family farm in eastern Iowa, where my parents still farm today. My passion for agriculture led me to Iowa State University, where I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business and International Agriculture. I also hold a Juris Doctorate degree from Drake Law School, specializing in agricultural law and policy. While Iowa has always been home to me, one of my favorite past-times is traveling, and over the years I have had the privilege of observing agricultural production in variety of countries around the world.