The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended the deadline for farmers to update their base acres or yield history under the 2014 Farm Bill’s commodity farm safety coverage programs—Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC).

The final day to update yield history or reallocate base acres has been extended to March 31, according to USDA.

This is an important decision for producers, because these programs provide financial protection against unexpected changes in the marketplace. Producers are working to make the best decision they can. And we’re working to ensure that they’ve got the time, the information and the opportunities to have those final conversations, review their data and to visit the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to make those decisions, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

If no changes are made to yield history or base acres by March 31, the farm’s current yield and base will be used. A program choice of ARC or PLC coverage also must be made by March 31, 2015, or there will be no 2014 payments for the farm and the farm will default to PLC coverage through the 2018 crop year.

To learn more, contact your local FSA county office.