WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency announced on Oct. 28 that producers on farms with base acres under the safety net programs established by the 2014 Farm Bill can begin signing contracts to enroll for the 2017 crop year.

The enrollment period will continue until Aug. 1, 2017.

“Since shares and ownership of a farm can change year-to-year, producers on the farm must enroll by signing a contract each program year,” said FSA Administrator Val Dolcini.

If a farm is not enrolled during the 2017 enrollment period, the producers on that farm will not be eligible for financial assistance from the Agriculture Risk Coverage or Price Loss Coverage programs for the 2017 crop should crop prices or farm revenues fall below the historical price or revenue benchmarks established by the program.

The programs offer a safety net to agricultural producers when there is a substantial drop in prices or revenues for covered commodities. For details, visit a local FSA office or fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc.