HANFORD INSURANCE · November 5, 2026
2026 ARC and PLC Election Guide for Illinois Farmers
The deadline for 2026 Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage election and enrollment is December 11, 2026. Illinois producers should work with their local Farm Service Agency office to complete the required election and enrollment steps.
Hanford can help you review how your farm program choices fit into your broader risk management plan. FSA handles enrollment, so a conversation with your insurance agent does not complete the process.
Know which program year you are enrolling in
| Program year | Election and enrollment period |
|---|---|
| 2026 | September 16 through December 11, 2026 |
| 2027 | November 2, 2026 through March 15, 2027 |
Both enrollment periods are open as of November 5, 2026. Confirm the program year with FSA and ask whether an existing or new multi-year contract affects what you need to sign. Election and enrollment are separate steps, even when you decide to keep the same program choice.
FSA ARC and PLC program dates and enrollment guidance
Understand the program differences
ARC-County, or ARC-CO, considers county revenue using program prices and county yields. Your farm’s own yield can differ from the county result. Price Loss Coverage, or PLC, can pay when a covered commodity’s effective price falls below its effective reference price. The farm’s PLC payment yield also affects the calculation.
ARC-CO and PLC offer crop-by-crop choices. ARC-Individual, or ARC-IC, is a separate option based on the enrolled farm operation. Ask FSA or your adviser whether it belongs in your review.
Compare scenarios for your own farm
Use your county, crop, base acres and PLC payment yield when comparing the programs. The University of Illinois farmdoc team’s October 27 analysis suggests ARC-CO may produce larger payments for many corn and soybean base acres under current price and yield expectations. That outlook can change as new information becomes available.
If a comparison table is labeled “PLC minus ARC-CO,” a negative number means ARC-CO pays more in that scenario. A positive number favors PLC. Zero means equal modeled payments, which can include no payment from either program. Check whether the calculator reports a payment difference per base acre, a total payment or another measure.
Expected payments are estimates. Final county yields and marketing-year prices will determine actual results. Compare multiple scenarios instead of treating one estimate as a promised payment.
University of Illinois 2026 ARC and PLC analysis and decision tools
Keep harvest insurance prices separate from program prices
Crop insurance harvest prices use a specified futures price discovery period. ARC and PLC use their own program price measures, including marketing-year averages. Use the correct inputs for each calculation when reviewing your options.
Review current SCO and ECO eligibility
USDA states that eligible producers may now add Supplemental Coverage Option or Enhanced Coverage Option regardless of their ARC or PLC election. The previous restriction preventing ARC participants from purchasing SCO for the same acres was removed.
Ask your crop insurance agent about availability, coverage combinations and sales closing dates for your crop and county. The change does not reopen a deadline that has passed.
USDA announcement on enrollment and crop insurance eligibility
Prepare for your FSA appointment
Before your appointment, review your farm numbers, crops, base acres, PLC payment yields and current program elections. Bring any questions about ownership, operating shares or changes to the farm. Ask FSA to confirm that all required signatures and enrollment documents are complete.
Talk through your options with Hanford
Our farm insurance team can help you understand the questions to discuss before making your election. Call (309) 944-5151 or contact Hanford through our Geneseo, Orion, Erie, Prophetstown or Port Byron offices, then complete your election and enrollment with FSA by the applicable deadline.
Related reading: 2026 Crop Insurance Harvest Prices and Claim Reporting.
FSA administers program eligibility, elections and enrollment. Actual program payments depend on final data and applicable rules.