BANGOR — Sherry Hamel, USDA Maine Farm Service Agency acting state executive director, reminds farmers and ranchers they have until Tuesday, Aug. 1, to enroll in Agriculture Risk Coverage and/or Price Loss Coverage programs for the 2017 crop year.

The programs trigger financial protection for participating agricultural producers when market forces cause substantial drops in crop prices or revenues.

“Producers have already elected ARC or PLC, but to receive program benefits they must enroll for the 2017 crop year by signing a contract before the Aug. 1 deadline,” Hamel said. “Please contact your local Farm Service Agency office to schedule an appointment if you have not yet enrolled,” she said.

Covered commodities under the programs include barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long-grain rice, medium-grain rice, which includes short-grain and sweet rice, safflower seed, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat.

FMI: fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc, offices.usda.gov.