The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s safety-net programs for farmers have a June 30 application deadline for 2020.

Illinois director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency Bill Graff says his group is ready to assist farmers in signing-up for programs, obtaining credit for operating costs or service loans. Last year, USDA reported record enrollment for the federally backed Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage insurance policies.

A farmer’s 2019 crop year program elections apply to 2020. Farmers that fail to enroll by the deadline will be ineligible to receive a payment for the 2020 crop year, should one be triggered by volatile markets or weather.

“Give us a call today. We will send the ARC/PLC contract for signature via mail or email, depending on your preference,” Graff says. Locate your local FSA county office at farmers.gov/service-center-locator.

Illinois producers signed a record 172,299 ARC and PLC contracts for the 2019 crop year, which is more than 106.83% of the total contracts signed on average over the past five years.

“We anticipate 2020 enrollment to be equally noteworthy,” Graff says, noting the effects of trade disruptions and natural disasters on commodity prices make the financial protections of subsidized insurance more appealing to farmers.

As of April 20, FSA records in Illinois show 83,117 farms out of an expected 172,299 farms have completed ARC or PLC enrollment for the 2020 crop year.

“Although we are well on our way to another successful enrollment, we have many producers to assist between now and June 30,” Graff says. “During these unprecedented circumstances, USDA Farm Service Agency is here to support you through delivery of our farm programs while you selflessly work to feed our nation and the world.”