With ARC and PLC payments, bridge assistance, the harvest fuel relief program, and crop insurance, it’s estimated that 30 percent of 2026 net farm income is coming from the federal government. The Red River Farm Network asked Deputy Ag Secretary Stephen Vaden if that impacts land values, rental rates, and cropping decisions in the year ahead. “When we do our harvest fuel cost program, we’re looking at what their cost of production was this year to determine the payment rate. We’re not looking at anything going forward and farmers shouldn’t necessarily expect any additional ad hoc programs out of the Commodity Credit Corporation given the amount of assistance and the cap that we have on spending.” Vaden emphasized that the update to the ARC/PLC program is permanent law. “The reference prices reflect the increased cost of production and that’s not going to change for crop year ’27.” The Red River Farm Network interview with Deputy Secretary Vaden can be found online.
