As a group, US farmers’ decision on which commodity program to elect captured only about 67% of potential ARC-CO and PLC payments during the 2021-2024 crop years. This article proposes a simple decision guide that a “what if” analysis found would have captured around 93% of potential 2021-2024 crop year ARC-CO and PLC payments, compared to 67% actually paid to farmers, a substantial improvement.

Soon, the decision-making process for the 2027 crop will begin in earnest, and Midwest farmers will begin making acreage choices between corn and soybeans. Across all regions, soybeans have been more profitable than corn in most years since 2012. This history suggests that soybeans will be more profitable than corn in 2027 because crop prices likely will be near long-run averages, general cost inflation will increase corn costs more than soybean costs, and nitrogen fertilizer prices will be high.

The US farm bill crop safety net targets two risks.  Crop insurance targets production-period low yield and revenue risk.  Commodity programs target multiple-year low price and revenue risk.  A farm…

Continuing the review of the Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit, this article explores the potential economic benefit that could be created for Midwest corn and soybean producers implementing approved practices. …

Between a recent Supreme Court decision and controversial provisions in the unfinished Farm Bill considered in the House, normally obscure pesticide regulations have garnered an unusual amount of attention lately…

Since 2019, ARC-CO (Agriculture Risk Coverage – county version) and PLC (Price Loss Coverage) payments have approximately followed market returns:  large when market losses are large and small when markets…