USDA Announces $89 Million in Farm, Conservation Payments for New York

SYRACUSE – New York farmers, ranchers and landowners are receiving approximately $89 million in federal farm safety net and conservation payments, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency announced Oct. 16.

The statewide assistance is part of $13.8 billion in gross payments nationwide through the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs for the 2025 crop year, plus $1.8 billion in Conservation Reserve Program annual payments for 2026.

Clark Putman, the agency’s New York state executive director, said the payments help producers cover operating expenses, buy supplies and equipment, and support local businesses.

Enrollment deadlines and payment changes

The election and enrollment period for Agriculture Risk Coverage, known as ARC, and Price Loss Coverage, or PLC, for the 2026 crop year opened Sept. 16 and continues through Dec. 11, 2026. Enrollment for the 2027 crop year runs from Nov. 2, 2026, through March 15, 2027.

According to USDA, the Working Families Tax Cuts Act raised statutory reference prices and changed effective reference price calculations beginning with the 2025 crop year. For that crop year only, producers automatically receive the higher payment rate under ARC or PLC, regardless of which program they selected.

The law raised the programs’ payment limit from $125,000 to $155,000, with annual inflation adjustments. The adjusted limit for the 2025 crop year is $160,000.

USDA said its gross ARC and PLC payment total does not reflect payment-limit reductions or the statutory 5.7% sequestration reduction that applies to all payments under the two programs. The agency will issue payments to eligible producers as calculations are completed.

PLC provides income support when a covered commodity’s effective price falls below its effective reference price. ARC provides support when crop revenue falls below a guaranteed level, using either county-level or individual-farm revenue, depending on the coverage selected. ARC-County payments are triggered at the county level.

The law also added 30 million base acres nationwide, including more than 599,000 in New York. Because eligible acreage exceeded the national cap, the agency applied a 3.69% prorated reduction to all newly allocated base acres. The additional acres affect ARC and PLC beginning with the 2026 crop year.

Conservation payments

New York’s 2026 Conservation Reserve Program payments cover 12,425 acres under active contracts. The program provides annual rental payments to eligible landowners who establish long-term, resource-conserving vegetation to protect natural resources and wildlife habitat.

Grassland CRP allows participating landowners to conserve grasslands while continuing livestock grazing and haying. After 2026 enrollment, it is expected to account for more than 40% of all CRP acreage nationwide, including 3,107 acres in New York, according to the agency.

Producers and landowners with questions about enrollment, crop-year payments or 2026 conservation rental payments should contact their local Farm Service Agency county office.