How 2026 and 2025 PLC Payments Compare for Major Crops
We provide a table showing the differences for the major crops
We have been tracking estimated PLC payment projections for both the 2025 and 2026 crop years, and the latest numbers tell a stark story. Based on current USDA MYA price estimates and updated base acres reflecting the OBBBA changes, total estimated national PLC payments for the top six crops are projected to fall from approximately $9.68 billion in 2025 down to $2.71 billion in 2026 — a reduction of nearly $6.97 billion, or 72%.
However, unlike 2025 where farmers automatically got paid the higher of ARC or PLC, for the 2026 crop year farmers will need to make an election between ARC and PLC. This analysis simply shows how PLC payments would look if farmers elected 100% PLC. We know this will not happen, but the analysis does show how payments would drop if that automatic top-up had continued for 2026. It is worth noting that other crops also receive PLC payments, but they are not as material as these six and follow a similar downward trend.
Here is a crop-by-crop breakdown of what the numbers look like:
