January 13, 2026
ARC/PLC Enrollment Delayed Until After Planting
Enrollment for the USDA’s ARC and PLC Programs will not open until after the 2026 planting season. AgroLatam said the announcement comes as USDA readies a 61-page final rule implementing updates required by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025. Key changes include higher PLC reference prices, a 90 percent guarantee level for ARC, and expanded base acre eligibility for farmers with historically non-program crops. USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce said the delays are due to the Farm Service Agency workload and the complex nature of implementing the new federally-mandated provisions. According to the rule, farmers will likely know their 2026 production and yields before enrolling in PLC and ARC – a significant shift in timing that could allow more informed decisions but may compress the planning window for each U.S. producer. At the same time, enrollment in the Dairy Margin Coverage began on Monday, January 12.
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Busy Sunday at AFBF National Convention
The American Farm Bureau Convention on Sunday included a rare joint appearance of all four leaders of the congressional agriculture committees to discuss issues important to rural America during the general session. The Senate Ag Committee Chair John Boozman (BOZE-man) (R-AR), Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), the chair of the House Ag Committee GT Thompson (R-PA), and Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-MN) covered priority issues like passing a new five-year farm bill, developing domestic and international markets for ag products, providing access to a stable workforce for farmers and ranchers, and the importance of grassroots involvement in advocacy. Also, during the general session, the late Bill Northey, a long-time agricultural leader from Iowa, was posthumously honored with the Distinguished Service Award. During his keynote address, AFBF President Zippy Duvall challenged attendees to strive for servant leadership, even when there are costs and sacrifices associated with serving.
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Crop Production Report Shows Record-High Corn Harvest
The USDA’s Crop Production Report said the 2025 corn harvest was a record high 17 billion bushels, up 14 percent from the 2024 estimate. The average yield was estimated at a record high of 186.5 bushels per acre, up 7.2 bushels from the previous year. The soybean harvest totaled 4.26 billion bushels in 2025, down three percent from 2024. The average yield was estimated at a record high 53 bushels per acre, up 2.3 bushels from 2024. The all-cotton production number was estimated at 13.9 million 480-pound bales, down three percent from 2024. The U.S. yield was estimated at 856 pounds per acre, down 30 pounds from the prior year. The 2025 sorghum harvest was estimated at 437 million bushels, up 27 percent from the 2024 total. Grain yield was estimated at 72.6 bushels per acre, 11.3 bushels higher than the previous year. Rice production totaled 207 million hundredweight, down seven percent from 2024.
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USDA Issues January WASDE Report
The USDA’s January World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates Report said the 2025-2026 U.S. corn outlook is for larger production, higher feed and residual use, reduced food, seed, and industrial use, and greater ending stocks. With more supply and less usage, corn stocks rose by 198 million bushels to 2.2 billion. The season-average corn price for producers was raised ten cents to $4.10 per bushel. The U.S. soybean supply was raised by 17 million bushels on higher beginning stocks and production. Soybean ending stocks rose 60 million bushels to 350 million, and the season-average soybean price for farmers is projected to be 30 cents lower at $10.20 per bushel. The 2025-2026 wheat outlook this month is for slightly larger supplies, lower domestic use, unchanged exports, and larger ending stocks. Projected wheat ending stocks were raised by 25 million bushels to 926 million, up eight percent from the previous year. The season-average farm price dropped by a dime to $4.90 per bushel.
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Compeer Financial Announces New Grant Application Schedule
Compeer Financial has refreshed its corporate philanthropic program under Compeer Giving. The program refocuses its investments in the future of rural communities under three core efforts, including grants, scholarships, and community partnerships. While the complete application schedule is on the Compeer website, grants are available for high school seniors, farmers’ markets, emergency response equipment, county fair facility upgrades, and ACRE (Agriculture Classrooms, Resources, and Equipment) Grants. “The Compeer Giving program breathes new life into our strategic giving and supports Compeer’s vision of creating a world where agriculture and rural communities are dynamic, collaborative, and thriving,” said Karen Scheiler, manager of Compeer Giving at Compeer Financial. She also said Compeer Giving is dedicated to strengthening agriculture and rural communities across its 144-county territory in Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Compeer Giving will support programs and partners aligned with the goals of inspiring youth, enhancing agriculture and the rural workforce, and empowering rural communities.
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Farm Bureau Selects Farm Dog of the Year
Recognizing the vital role that dogs often play on family farms and ranches, Farm Bureau launched the Farm Dog of the Year contest several years ago, which is now a popular feature of the American Farm Bureau’s National Convention. The winner of this year’s award is Max, a four-year-old Border Collie owned by John, Charla, and Brynley Enns of Oklahoma. AFBF, with support from Nestle, picked Max as the winner from among almost 100 entries. Max fills a number of roles on the farm, but his primary occupation is herding cattle. His assistance is valuable for John, who’s disabled and uses a mobility scooter. “I can’t imagine doing this without Max,” said John Enns. “Max is not only a working dog, but also great with the family.” After a long day of herding boisterous cattle on mostly hilly terrain, Max often accompanies John and Charla to pick up daughter Brynley from school.
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