Dolcini noted that with electronic deposits, farmers could see payments within a matter of days.

"We are really looking at every potential tool in the toolbox to help farmers who have been hit with declining commodity prices," Dolcini told DTN.

The 2014 farm bill authorized the ARC-PLC safety net to trigger and provide financial assistance only when decreases in revenues or crop prices occur. The ARC and PLC programs allow producers to continue to produce for the market by making payments on a percentage of historical base production, limiting the effects on production decisions.

According to USDA, producers enrolled 96% of soybean base acres, 91% of corn base acres and 66% of wheat base acres in the ARC-County coverage option. They enrolled 99% of long-grain rice and peanut base acres and 94% of medium-grain rice base acres in the PLC option.

Overall, 76% of participating farm base acres are enrolled in ARC-County, 23% in PLC and 1% in ARC-Individual.

Payments are made to producers who enrolled base acres of barley, corn, grain sorghum, lentils, oats, peanuts, dry peas, soybeans, wheat and canola. In the upcoming months, payments will be announced after marketing-year average prices are published by USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the remaining covered commodities.

These include long- and medium-grain rice (except for temperate Japonica rice), and are scheduled to be announced in November. Remaining oilseeds and chickpeas are scheduled to be announced in December, and temperate Japonica rice, are scheduled to be announced in early February 2017. Upland cotton is no longer a covered commodity.

The Budget Control Act of 2011, passed by Congress, requires USDA to reduce 2015 ARC and PLC payments by 6.8%, according to the release. For more information, producers are encouraged to visit their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office. To find a local FSA office, visit http://offices.usda.gov/….

Other steps USDA has taken so far in 2016 to help farmers deal with low commodity prices include creating a one-time cost-share program for cotton ginning, purchasing about $800 million in excess commodities to be redirected to food banks and those in need, making some $11 million in payments to dairy farmers through the dairy margin protection program, and reprogramming Farm Service Agency funds to expand credit options for farmers and ranchers in need of extra capital.

FSA Administrator Dolcini also noted that USDA has seen significant demand for farm loans and has loaned about $6.3 billion to farmers this year.

"As always, we continue to watch market conditions and will explore opportunities for further assistance in the coming months," Vilsack said. "For producers challenged by weather, disease and falling prices, we will continue to ensure the availability of a strong safety net to keep them farming or ranching."

For other program information including frequently asked questions, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc.

(AG)

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