A new farmdoc analysis suggests farmers can improve future Agriculture Risk Coverage – County (ARC-CO) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program elections by using a straightforward decision framework based on historical payment outcomes. Researchers evaluated enrollment decisions made between 2021 and 2024 and found many farmers did not select the program that ultimately generated the highest payment, creating opportunities to improve future farm program elections.

  • The proposed decision guide identified the higher-paying program 89% of the time across 36 crop-year observations.
  • For corn, soybeans, and wheat, the guide correctly identified the higher-paying option 92% of the time.
  • Farmers captured an estimated 67% of the payments that would have been available by consistently choosing the higher-paying program.
  • Researchers estimate producers could have received approximately $1.3 billion more over the 2021–2024 period with improved program elections.
  • The framework is designed to support producer decision-making when future ARC-CO and PLC enrollment opportunities arise.

Read the full article to see how the proposed decision guide could help improve future ARC-CO and PLC election decisions.

Zulauf, C., H. Monaco, G. Schnitkey and N. Paulson. “ARC-CO and PLC Payments: Improving Farmers’ Decision Making.” farmdoc daily (16):139, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, August 5, 2026.