by Ben Nuelle
There seems to be a lot of concerns with Agriculture Risk Coverage payments across Iowa and other Midwestern states. Farmers are concerned adjacent counties from theirs are receiving more money. John Whitaker is Iowa?s State Executive Director of USDA?s Farm Service Agency.
He says ARC payments can be difficult to understand.
?The important thing to remember is as we look at the 2014 Farm Bill, this operates on information producers give NASS or National Agriculture Statistics Service. When they have 10 percent of a county?s corn acreage covered by survey results then we use those yields so this is what producers have told us.?
Whitaker says he is familiar with situations where farmers in adjacent counties receive different payments.
?I talked to one producers about specifically about that situation of an adjoining county getting a maximum payment and another county not getting a payment. He knew both counties well. He said that county that got the maximum payment I do know they had a little bit of a weather issue and he said the other county had perfect weather and that affects the payments.?
Whitaker says the ARC program is not a new idea. It?s a revamping of the old acre program under the 2008 Farm Bill.
