Ag News Roundup: Record ARC and PLC Payments, CRP Dollars, Federal Grazing Plans and Vietnam Trade Talks
Here’s a look at what’s headlining ag news this past week, from farm safety net payments, grazing policy, seed research and trade news.
Record $13.8 Billion in ARC and PLC Payments Headed to Farmers for 2025 Crop Year
The USDA announced that Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) will pay out about $13.8 billion for the 2025 crop year, the largest annual total since the programs began under the 2014 Farm Bill. Sixteen crops triggered PLC payments, including corn, soybeans, wheat, rice and peanuts. Those figures are before the 5.7% sequestration cut and the $160,000 payment limit, and enrollment for the 2026 crop year is open through your local FSA county office.
Read the full announcement from the USDA.
USDA Sends $1.8 Billion in CRP Payments as Nearly 1 Million Grassland Acres Join Program
The USDA also announced it is issuing about $1.8 billion in annual rental payments to participating farmers, ranchers, and landowners through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and Grassland CRP. FSA accepted nearly 1 million new Grassland CRP acres this year, and Grassland CRP is expected to make up more than 40% of enrolled CRP acres. Grassland CRP lets participants keep most grazing and haying practices on enrolled land. Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, South Dakota and Missouri lead the nation in 2026 CRP payments.
See the CRP payment details from the USDA.
Secretary Rollins Sends Forest Service Grazing Permit Holders a Letter on June Grazing Directive
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins penned a letter to ranchers holding Forest Service grazing permits to outline the June 12 Grazing Directive. The directive calls for restoring at least 500,000 head months across National Forest System lands within two years, no net loss of Animal Unit Months and reopening vacant and closed allotments to grazing. It also covers wildfire planning, including virtual fencing and NEPA efficiencies on Forest Service and BLM lands, which span roughly 240 million acres across 28 states.
Read the grazing directive letter from the USDA.
USDA Puts $180 Million Toward Seed Sovereignty Initiative
The USDA is investing $180 million over two years to sequence and characterize collections in the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS), which holds more than 600,000 accessions across over 16,000 species. The goal is to help researchers respond faster to emerging crop pests and diseases and support new crop varieties. The USDA is also expanding its agreement with the Department of Justice to focus on competition in agricultural input markets, including seed.
See more on the initiative from the USDA.
Vietnam Says Trade Deal Talks With US Are Largely Complete
Vietnam’s government says negotiations on a reciprocal trade agreement with the US are nearly complete after seven rounds of talks since April 2025. A trade ministry official from India said the two sides are working through a few remaining technical issues with the Office of the US Trade Representative before signing and implementation. Vietnam’s trade surplus with the US reached $122.62 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 23.8% from a year earlier.