If you haven’t signed up for 2018 Farm Bill programs yet, Michael Langemeier urges you to do so soon. The sign-up deadline for the 2019 program year is coming soon, with sign-up for 2020 following shortly thereafter. You can sign up for both at once, if you prefer.

“Whichever choice you make for 2019 must also be your choice for 2020,” says Langemeier, a Purdue University Extension ag economist. “Beginning in 2021, you can change your choice, if you wish, under the 2018 Farm Bill.”

Under the 2014 Farm Bill, the Agriculture Risk Coverage-County option was the hands-down obvious choice of the three options for most producers, he notes. This time around, the choice isn’t as obvious — you may want to consider the Price Loss Coverage or ARC-Individual options. The latter might apply best to someone who had large amounts of prevented planting in 2019, he says.

Purdue University is offering a farm bill workshop Feb. 12 at the Huntington County Fairgrounds, beginning at 10:30 a.m. EST. If you preregister, Indiana Farm Bureau will provide your lunch. Megan Ritter of INFB will also talk about Farm Bureau’s proposed health benefit plan during the program.

Purdue is also offering a workshop on crop marketing and financial planning. While different than the farm bill workshop, those topics may play into your decision-making for farm bill elections.

These workshops are scheduled for Feb. 14 at the Vermillion County Fairgrounds in Cayuga, March 6 at the Dubois County Fairgrounds Clover Pavilion in Huntingburg, and March 13 at the Wells County Community Center in Bluffton.

Programs begin at 10:30 a.m. Registration is free, but preregistration is required.